If I had a dollar for every time someone explained to me that teachers don’t have a high salary, I wouldn’t have to worry about it in the first place. I have explained to many different people over the past couple of years that I am well aware teachers are underpaid, but I still want to teach anyway. I know I won’t become rich being a teacher and I’ve always accepted that. For me it’s not about the money, it’s about what I actually want to do. Isn’t that more important than a big paycheck?

When I look back on my freshman and sophomore year, the two years I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living, I remember always watching my teachers guide their students toward their future. I always thought it must be such a great feeling to know you contributed to a child’s life. I personally want to teach high school. I love the idea of pushing teenagers forward in the right direction while also teaching them how to figure everything out for themselves. It’s impossible to force a student into a passion, but it’s very possible to help them find their own. That’s what I want to do. I’ve always loved helping others and even though students don’t often express gratitude, I’ll know that what I’ll be doing is for the benefit of each student. High school is stressful, and I want to make it a little easier for my future students by listening and helping them through whatever obstacles may come their way.

I’ve also always wanted a job that mattered. I knew since I was little, I wanted to feel like I was doing good in the world. Teachers are much more important than they are given credit for. I have personally been picked back up by my teachers more times than I can count. It’s essential that students feel like they have a support system at school, especially if the one at home is lacking. Sometimes a kid needs a teacher they can confide in if they are struggling either at home or at school or even both. I hope to be a teacher that students can talk to and be honest with.

Being a teacher will also let me advance in my favorite subject: English. English has always been a passion of mine. Since I was little, I was fascinated by the subject. When I decided to become a teacher, I knew right away English was the subject I wanted to teach. I’ve always helped friends on school essays and language. I love writing and I love reading what comes from the minds of other people. Everyone has different experiences that will affect what they write. For me a highlight of teaching English will be reading the papers of each individual student, and learning more about them through their writing. Many kids, such as myself, are shy in person, but their writing carries a voice that otherwise goes unheard. I’ve always loved reading what my friends put down on paper because I feel like I learn a new side to them.

I don’t think much about how big my paycheck is going to be. I have found a career that is meaningful to me. As the college days fly by, I get one step closer to reaching my goal. I look forward to the day I am standing in the front of a classroom.