There are not cute name tags on the desk, or no adorable bulletin board to make the room come to life. There isn't a place for treats or fun songs to sing that will help people learn. Nap time and recess have gone away and the only thing that has stayed the same is the people in classes with you but even that will sometimes change. So why didn't I pick elementary education? If you know me then you know that I am right there with the age group most of the time: 22 going on 6! I would have had a blast being an elementary teacher but that just wasn't for me. Instead, I chose secondary education or better known as high school.
This is about the time when I get the normal reaction of "you're crazy!" or "why would you want to teach high school?!" There are plenty other reactions, but I just ignore them so I can't really repeat them. So, for those that wonder why or are considering following the same career path, I would like to shed some light on why I chose to follow secondary education.
As a kid I loved school. I loved reading, recess, and best of all: lunch! I loved learning things I had never known, knowing more about things I knew, and being able to answer questions when asked. The higher I climbed in the education system, the more I loved it. It wasn't until I reached a hard spot in school that I started to no longer feel the love for education. That, mixed with normal teenage drama, made school not ever a place I hated, but instead a place I enjoyed less than in the past. No matter how much I disliked school, some things I always enjoyed were my classes and teachers.
My teachers opened my eyes to what was possible if I just applied myself. My parents have always supported me, but this was a different kind of support. They were able to open my eyes to how interesting the subject matter could be and how it could help me in other subjects/areas of life. Their support was not the same as my parents. They didn't have this endless love for me because I was their child. Their support was genuine, and yes I believe it was authentic because their pay isn't that good.
I wasn't completely lost, but their are many out there who are. Many who think that this is all they're going to accomplish. Many who believe that they are not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough to leave their hometown and receive a higher education. Some don't even accomplish that. I want to be the one that shows them that they are capable of so much greatness if they just apply themselves, and for those that need help, I will be there to help them. I want to be the one that helps a student discover their love of history, or realize that one day they are going to follow their dream. I want to be the teacher that challenges her students but is also challenged by them. We will grow together and learn things from each other. So that's why I want to teach those kids that are in high school. That is why even though I will always be a kid at heart, I decided not to go the elementary education route. I want to help our future leaders find their calling, and that occurs more when they are in high school.
