Why Become a Teacher?

My choice to become a teacher was not made lightly. I have chosen a career in education because I believe it is one of the most important roles in today's society, and would help me fulfil a desire to help and guide young people at a time they need it most.
I began to understand in school and university that great teachers have skills that I wanted to learn. I want to follow their examples. I remember that great teachers were good at explaining content, were patient yet firm with students, were always fair, set high expectations, knew how to motivate, and used humour appropriately. This is the type of teacher that I intend to become. I understand that my personal teaching style will evolve as I draw on my own strengths, knowledge, skills, values and experiences.
Why do I want to become a teacher? A teacher has the direct opportunity to make a difference, to change the future. I will set high goals and do my best to show each and every student that these goals are within their reach. I will expect every one of my students to want to learn, and more importantly to understand. I want my students to fight over the seats in the front row as if they were attending a concert, not a school. I want to make my students wonder; make them question; make them think critically; make them write; make them read and feel the same about English as I do.
An excellent teacher is not just someone who explains. Not someone who just demonstrates. An excellent teacher is someone who inspires. An excellent teacher goes the extra mile. They can take any individual and make them believe that their hopes and dreams are within their reach. An excellent teacher will not let a student walk away until every question is fully explained and completely understood. If the day ends and the student still has not understood the lesson plan, an extraordinary teacher would brainstorm. He or she would think, “How can I explain this concept to the student so that he or she can better understand it?” I intend on being that type of teacher.
The chance to inspire another human being is not an opportunity it’s a challenge. Students go to school because they are forced to. Many times learning is not their top priority, but the teacher’s job is to teach. Students are always learning. Unfortunately, it just may not be what the teacher is teaching. Since this is the case, a teacher must not only know his or her content area, they must also be prepared to teach other “things”. Things, such as character, morals, etc., which may prove to be more valuable than knowledge itself. This is the reason I want to become a teacher.
I want students to learn in a safe and comfortable environment so that their self-esteem will be increased. I will have the privilege of shaping future parents and productive members of society. For all of these reasons, I ask myself, what better job could there be? My answer is none, because teaching is more than a job. It is an important contribution I can make to better our society, and I am excited about the opportunity to do so.