" Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

I am not going to keep defending myself when people say, "Why would you ever wish to become a teacher"..."But you're so smart" or "thosewhocan,do;thosewhocan't,teach." All I ever dream of becoming is a teacher and no one can change my mind. Here are the many reasons why teaching is the career of my future.

1. The opportunity to profoundly impact the lives of children.

Every day when I walk into the school I teach for, my plan is to make a difference in a single students day, every day, for my entire career. That way, at the end of my days of being a teacher, I'd have made a difference in over thousands of students lives.

2. There is never a dull moment.

When teaching, whether you are teaching elementary, intermediate or high school, everyday promises a different outcome.

3. I'd rather not work in a cubicle!

If you teach in a classroom you get so much wall space to hang up: student work, posters and basically any decoration you could dream of! I would absolutely hate to work in a small, confined space and sit at a desk all day!

4. I will get to continue learning new things everyday from both my co-workers and students.

Students are interesting and many of them don't have filters. Most of them, more often than not, lead very interesting lives (myself included). Whether it is random factoids or ways to become a better teacher, I'll never stop learning.

5. The chance to change the future.

As the author Henry B. Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.” Or, as teacher and astronaut Christa McAuliffe put it, “I touch the future: I teach.”

6. I get to spread my love of literature across the lives of many and hope that one day, they too will come to appreciate a good book as much as I do.

All I could ever think of being is an English teacher. I can't name one person I know who loves books more than I do and I just want to continue spreading the love of literature.

7. The schedule.

I do not want to be a teacher because I want the summers off. Don't get me wrong, it will be wonderful because I have hobbies that I'll be able to pursue, lessons to plan and I hope to have a family some day. But unlike other careers, such as anything in the medical fields, I will get to enjoy holidays with my friends and family instead of working 24/7.