Why should I become a teacher?

You should become a teacher because you get to make a difference in the lives of your students, you get summer vacations, and you establish life-long friendships with other teachers. Here is a closer look at these and other reasons you should become a teacher:

• You get to make a difference in the lives of your students

  When you are a teacher, you have the ability to make a significant difference in the lives of the children or adult students you teach. Being a teacher also serves as a great foundation and jumping-off-point to other careers.

  Each day a teacher works with their students is another opportunity to make a positive lasting impression on their pupils' lives. They can awaken a child or adult student's intellectual curiosity that may have been dormant up to this point.

  Many teachers cite one of the most gratifying aspects of teaching is when one of their students has an "aha" moment from their instruction. This takes place when a concept that was previously not understood by a student clicks into focus, and they gain understanding.

• Most teachers get summer vacations and holidays off

  If you work as a teacher in grades K - 12, you get the entire summer off, just like your students. You also get any holidays your students have off as well.

  Some teachers opt to continue working during the summer months by teaching summer school or giving personal tutoring sessions. This is a great option if a teacher is looking to make some extra money.

• Many teachers gain life-long friendships with other teaching staff

  Teachers often develop many friends that are instructors at the same school or even ones at a different school in the same community. Many teachers tend to be like-minded, generous, and compassionate, so they can expect to gain valuable friendships with others during their careers.

  The bonds they have with their colleagues are generally very strong and can be utilized during times when a teacher is struggling and needs support.

• You have the opportunity to use and hone many different skills

  Some of the skills you gain and hone as a teacher include organization, public speaking, motivating others, coaching, and creativity.

  These are great transferable skills that can be applied in other professions if a teacher wants to change careers or if they want to continue working part-time after they retire.

• The ability to continue learning and growing

  Teachers are well-known for being educators. And this is the very core of their job; however, most teachers also love to learn and further educate themselves. And this profession can help you to continue to learn and grow throughout your career as a teacher.

  Many teachers cite this as a pro to the profession, as they are often afforded the opportunity to learn and grow themselves. There are so many great resources for teachers to draw upon and new techniques that they might try to adopt.

  There are conferences teachers can attend to learn new techniques and also events related to the specific subjects they teach. As a teacher, you can always gain more in-depth knowledge in your field of study. Teaching is generally a labor of love, so it is not surprising that most teachers also cherish the chance to continue their own education and growth.