This past week, for a homework assignment I had to write a paper answering seven questions about why I want to become a teacher, what I hope to achieve as a teacher, and so on.

Because there are many people who frown upon those who want to be teachers, I thought I'd share this with my readers since I have experienced some forms of disapproval myself. Not that anyone necessarily thought less of me, but I always get the concerned facial expressions and the "ooh honey, that takes a special kind of person. I could never do that."

And I agree, to be able to teach a classroom full of kids that aren't your own does take a special kind of person, but it also takes a kind of person who is willing to put in the time and effort with the students they may have, no matter how difficult they can be.

"--- Question #1 - "What reasons do you have for wanting to teach? Are they all negative (e.g. because the schools are oppressive, or because you need a job and working as a teacher is more respectable than working as a cab driver or a salesperson)? What are the positive reasons for wanting to teach? Is there any pleasure to be gained from teaching? Knowledge? Power?

I want to become a teacher because I believe that teachers have the power to be the most influential in a young person’s life. As a teacher, you spend more time with your students during the week than their own parents. You become the person who disciplines them the most. This can either be okay or not so great. In America, a lot of kids start getting into trouble in junior high and high school, and a lot of times they just drop out or get kicked out of school because they wont abide by any school rules and they don't respect authority. Of course, as teachers, you can only do so much and parents have to carry a lot of the weight too. But I feel like in a lot of situations where kids are acting up at school, as teachers we have to remember that these kids could be carrying the weight of their home life around with them everyday. And the least I can do as their teacher is help them remember that they can do anything they set their mind to, and always encourage them to do their best and strive for greatness.

I want to be an advocate for these kinds of students who may not have a voice, or opportunities, or help at home. I want to be the person in their corner that is telling them they can be successful, no matter what has happened to them in their life or what is currently going on. I want to be a teacher so that kids can know that they can amount to anything they want, and that they don't have to fall into whatever cycle is expected of them. And while this sounds a little dramatic, I have met and spent time with kids that just needed to know that someone would care about them no matter what, but they didn't have that kind of home life, so they felt like they wouldn't amount to anything. There is so much pleasure and joy to be had as a teacher. Even if I only ever helped one student become whatever they dreamed of being during my entire career as teacher, it would be completely worth it. I do believe knowledge is power, especially in our society today. But life isn’t only about having power, so I hope that I can effectively convey that to my students one day.

Question #2 - "Why do you want to spend so much time with young people? Do you feel more comfortable with children? Have you spent much time with children recently, or are you mostly fantasizing about how they would behave? Are you afraid of adults? Intimidated by adult company? Fed up with the competition and coldness of business and the university?"

Young people/children have always been whom I am most comfortable with. Not because adults are intimidating or that I don't like authority, just simply because I love kids. I grew up babysitting kids, then my sister had a baby and he’s five now, and I consider him one of my best friends haha. People think that's silly, but most of the time I would rather spend time with him than people my own age!

When I was younger, I use to think that maybe I would be a teacher, but never really thought that I could do it. At Junior College, I thought that I might do Special Education, and then I applied to MSU as a Social Work major. I wanted to work with children still, and I thought that this would be a good route for me, but after a year in the SW classes, I figured out that wasn't the case. So I changed to Public Relations in the spring of 2016. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to be counselor at a Christian camp in Pennsylvania (MLC), and I spent my days with girls between the ages of 10-16. It was the best experience of my life. Once I got back to Starkville and I changed my major to Elementary Education after the first week of my Public Relation classes. I have never been more excited about school than I am now, and I've been in college for four years now haha. Remembering that I am working towards becoming a teacher keeps me going!

Question #3 - "What do you want from the students? Do you want them to do well on tests? How much do you need to have students like you? Are you afraid to criticize them or set limits on their behavior because they might be angry with you? Do you consider yourself one of the kids? Is there any difference in your mind between your role and that of your prospective students?"

I want my students to feel successful. I want them to feel like they have the chance to be successful. I want my students to do well of course, but I want to also make sure that they know that I’m not there to criticize them when they don't do well, or boss them around, but that I genuinely have their best interest in mind. I want them to know that if they need a tutor, or any extra help, that we would make it happen. I want them to know that if they’re grades aren’t the best, that it isn’t the end of the world and that I will help them get the assistance they need to the best of my ability.

I don't feel like I need my students to like me. I understand completely that if I am dishing out any kind of discipline, then a lot of kids wont like me, and that's okay.Because my goal is to be a great and fun teacher, but most of all I want to be respected by my students. I want my classroom to be a place where kids can learn but also where they feel like they have the freedom to be kids, so I’ll definitely have to find a happy medium, because learning doesn't have to be a miserable experience. To be an effective teacher, I can’t have the same mindset as the kids I will be teaching. I believe in meeting them where they are, 100%, but that's different than being on their level or having their mindset.

Question #4 - "What do you know that you can teach or share with your students?"

I want to teach my kids the school’s curriculum of course, but I also want to teach them about life in general, and how much they can accomplish in life just by taking their schooling seriously and furthering their education after grade school.

I feel like there is a huge disconnect with the youth of America and what it means to be successful, and I believe that the parents/guardians are definitely held accountable for that, but secondly I believe that a major part of the problem is also in the classroom. I want my students to know that no matter where they come from, good or bad, no matter what is going on at home, good or bad, what is expected of them, good or bad… I want them to know that they can be whatever they choose to be. That they hold that power, and no one else can take that unless they let them.

Question #5 - With what age youngster do you feel the greatest affinity or are you most comfortable with?

I’m honestly comfortable with any age, but if I could just hang out with a bunch of five-year-olds all the time I would. I want to teach between 3rd and 5th grades though. I think that age group is the most interesting and challenging out of the younger kids.

Question #6 - "What kind of kids and what kind of school do you want to teach in?"

I want to work with inner city kids that are from the rough parts of town. The kids that are the hardest to love but that need it the most. The kids at the camp I spent the summer at were from the inner cities of New York, and they were tough as they come because they have to be. They tested every ounce of my patience but they grabbed my entire heart.

(Sidenote: I always get the best reactions when asked this question. The most popular response is, "why on earth would you wanna do that?" People are so funny, you guys.)

Question #7 - "How comfortable would you been teaching in a multi-racial or multicultural setting? Do you feel capable of working with a culturally diverse student population?"

I would be 100% comfortable with teaching in a multi-racial/multi-cultural setting. In fact, that's the setting I desire to be in. I would love to be able to teach in a place as diverse and rough as inner-city New York, and I don't know if that would ever happen but it would be amazing and the need is always great there. --- "

When I think about becoming a teacher, it always brings a smile to my face. Knowing that I'm going to have the opportunity to make a difference in some cute kids life is mind blowing, and to know that this is God's calling on my life makes it all the better.

So next time someone tells you they want to be a teacher, maybe you should ask them why they have that desire and how you can support them through their journey.

At MLC we always said that being a counselor is the hardest job you'll ever love, and I view being a teacher the same way.

Thanks for reading.