Teaching as a career?
Finally, I am glad to be at home and have access to the internet. I can finally get some things done and cross them out of my to-do list. I’m not sure how people before the age of internet lived, but I can’t ever imagine living without it. There’s just some things that just change people’s lives and there’s no way of going back to how things used to be done. That’s how I feel sometimes. I want to change someone’s life and have them see that from now on it’s a one way street to happiness and goodness.
The idea of what career I will lead in my life is still a big question mark. I’m so used to working part time jobs that don’t mean anything more than just a bi-weekly paycheck to pay rent and buy food. I used to have such a specific career in mind but once I entered college and finished my first year, those dreams died. It’s so sad to see those dreams die because of one’s inabilities or lack of will to work hard. All I know is that I want to work with people and I want to inspire someone/change someone’s lives.
At first I thought about working in the mental health industry. But for now, that doesn’t seem so appealing and I’m not sure why. I’m a psychology major and it’s appealing and all but the career doesn’t seem so great anymore. I thought about teaching. I love working with children (or I think I do?). I don’t want to graduate with just a Psychology major. I tried to pick up a Biology minor but things didn’t work out as planned. I looked a little into an Education minor and that seems appealing. I think I’ll sign up for JumpStart this year at school and maybe take a CalTeach class to see if this is something I really want to get into.
Teaching seems really good right now because I love how there’s a summer break, weekends and you only teach during school hours. I can do all my paper work at home or… get some TAs. I’m creative (or I think I am) and I feel like I have a lot to offer to these kids. I want them to look back when they are older and be like “Wow I really like Ms.__ because she inspired me to _______” or “Take Ms.__, she’s the coolest!” I have a couple teachers that have inspired me to do some nice things. I want to teach these kids more than just what’s in the book. Life lessons. Arts & crafts! Everything! Plus, I love to talk and have people listen to me. These kids would be great. It would be a double whammy of beneficial.
The only thing stopping me? I feel like people who teach are overworked and underpaid and most of all underappreicated. There’s nothing wrong with people who teach. Teachers are the selfless ones that are giving their all to help your children and yet parents and other professions look down on them. Who’s going to teach your kids if everyone looks down on them and no one wants to be a teacher in the end? That’s right. I know I can’t change the view of people on teachers but I can change the lives of the next generation to understand. I want to inspire them. I want to be that difference!
All in all, I still have a headache over everything.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:19 pm 1
teachers get paid very well eventually, and very well for how much they actually work. sure, you’re starting pay is only ~45k, but it climbs up to ~70k in 10-15 year’s time.
if you’re a science/math teacher, you start out with higher pay, and it becomes much higher (100k+ at retirement). plus, you’re in demand everywhere.
i got paid $37/hour to just try out being a science/math teacher by our education department.
you have to really really like working with children though.