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Why I Want to Be a Teacher

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Published: Mar 18, 2021

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19 Top Ideas for a “Why I want to be a Teacher” Essay

Here are the 19 best reasons you would want to be a teacher that you can include in your essay:

To help children learn more effectively.
To ensure children have positive mentors.
To improve children’s lives.
To help future generations solve the problems of today.
To help the future generations become good citizens.
To inspire future generations to create a more equal world.
To give back to the community I grew up in.
To be a part of helping my community thrive.
To be a part of my community’s decision-making processes.
Because you have the patience for working with children.
Because you have compassion for children.
Because you want to learn from children.
Because you’re enthusiastic about learning.
Because you are a generous person.
Because you’re interested in learning how to teach difficult students.
Because you’re interested in learning how to work with difficult parents.
Because you’re interested in learning diverse strategies for teaching,
Because you’re interested in learning to master classroom management.
Because you’re interested in learning what works and what doesn’t in teaching.

The ‘Why I want to be a teacher’ essay is all about showing you have thought in-depth about what a teacher does and what their role is in society. It’s also about showing you think you’d be a good person to conduct that role.

The 9 Tips are split into five categories. You can scan this whole post or browse through the categories here:

This essay is hard to get right.

Most students write the exact same thing as one another with the same old cliché statements like “because I love kids” (ugh, wrong answer!). If you do this, your teacher will just give you an average grade (or worse).

You need your essay on “why you want to be a teacher” to be different – indeed excellent – so it stands out for your teacher.

I’ll show you how.

Why should you listen to me? Well, I’ve been teaching university students in education departments for 8 years. In that time I’ve marked several thousand essays by people aiming to become teachers. I know what essays get top marks and which ones are average. I also know exactly what mistakes students make that make their essays seem … dull.

So, let me get you started out by introducing 19 points that you should make in your essay on why you want to be a teacher. I’ll break these 19 points down into 5 separate categories. Check them out below.

Read Also: Is Being a Teacher Worth It? (Why I Quit a Good Job)

1. Definitely do not say “because kids are fun”. Do this instead.

The word ‘fun’ is a big red flag for markers. Too many people want to become teachers because they think it would be a fun profession. Or, they might think that they want to help children have fun . No, no, no.

This is an incorrect answer in your essay about why you want to become a teacher.

Yes, teaching is fun a lot of the time. And it is really nice to see students having fun based on activities you’ve set for them.

But society isn’t paying you to have fun, or even to make children have fun. You’re not going to be a child minder, aunt, uncle or clown. You’re going to be a professional who has a bigger social purpose than having fun.

Now, a lot of students say to me “But, students learn more when they’re having fun.” Sure, that might be true – but it’s not a central reason for teaching.

If making learning more fun is genuinely a reason why you decided to become a teacher, then you need to frame it in a way that shows the importance of teaching for the good of students. Here’s three better ways to say ‘because kids are fun’; for each on, we can start with “I want to become a teacher because…”:

I want to help children learn more effectively. You could say something like: …When I was in school, learning was hard and I therefore hated teaching. There were a lot of teachers who seemed uninspired and uninterested in whether their children are learning. I was inspired to become a teacher so I could help children like myself to learn in ways that are engaging, motivating and inspiring.
I want to ensure children have positive mentors. You could say something like: …Many children in the world don’t have positive mentors at home. A teacher is often the one person in a child’s life who is a stable mentor that the child can lean upon. I chose to become a teacher because I believe all children need a positive mentor that instils in them an interest in the world and a belief that they can make something of themselves.
I want to improve children’s lives. You could say something like: …Being a teacher will give me the power to make children’s lives better. Learning opens doors to new opportunities, ways of thinking and paths in life that children wouldn’t have had before me. I am inspired by the idea of helping a child who is sad, uncertain and lacks confidence to see their own potential for creating a fulfilling life for themselves.

All three of those ideas still skirt around the idea that helping children have fun is something you want to see happen, but they also point out that there’s something deeper here than the idea that children should have fun: they should have fun for a reason. That reason could be so they learn more, develop an interest in the world, or see that their lives are full of potential.

Note that in my three examples above, I never used the word ‘fun’: it’s too much of a red flag for your markers.

2. Explain how teaching helps the world! Here’s how.

Have you ever heard someone say that ‘Teaching is a noble profession’? Well, it is. And this is something you really should be talking about in your essay on why you want to become a teacher.

Your teacher will be impressed by your understanding that teaching is a profession that keeps the world turning. Without teachers, where would we be? Probably back in the dark ages where people couldn’t read or write, technology wasn’t advancing very quickly at all, and people mostly lived in ignorance of their world.

So, being a teacher is has a bigger social purpose. As a teacher, you’ll be an important piece of society. You’ll be one of the army of tens – no, hundreds – of thousands of people helping future generations to propel our world towards better days. Below are some ways teaching helps the world. You can start these off with “I want to become a teacher because…”

I want to help future generations solve the problems of today. Being a teacher gives you the opportunity to propel students to greater heights. The children in your classrooms will be the people who solve climate change (oh, goodness, I hope so!), create the technologies to make our lives more comfortable, and get us out of the ecological, economic and political messes we seem to have gotten ourselves into!
I want to help the future generations become good citizens. There’s a concept called the ‘ hidden curriculum ’. This concept points to the fact that children learn more at school than what’s in the tests. They also learn how to get along, manners, democratic values and the importance of sharing. These soft skills are more than just a by-product of education. They’re incredibly important for showing our students how to get along in our society.
I want to inspire future generations to create a more equal world. A lot of what we talk about at school are moral issues: what’s the right and wrong thing to do? How do our actions ensure or hinder equality of races, genders and social classes? As a teacher, you will be instilling in children the idea that the decisions they make will lead to a more or less equal world. And of course, we all want a more equal world for our children.

These points are some higher-order points that will help you teacher see that you’re becoming a teacher for more than ‘fun’. You’re becoming a teacher because you see the noble purpose in teaching. If you do this right, you’ll surely impress your teacher.

3. Discuss your commitment to community. Here’s how.

Teachers are at the center of communities. Parents take their children to school, drop them off, then go to work. They busily get on with their jobs: architect, shop assistant, nurse, builder, and so on… Then, they all come back at the end of the day to collect their children from school.

School is one of the few things that brings all of these different members of a community together. Parents gather around the pick up location to gather their kids, and there they stand around and chat about sports and politics and community issues.

School is at the heart of community.

And you, as a teacher, will be one of the respected members of that community: there to serve all the members of the community by helping to raise their children with the values of the community in which you live.

You can talk about this as a central reason why you want to be a teacher. How about you start off with: “I want to become a teacher because…”

I want to give back to the community I grew up in. You could say …I grew up in a close-knit community where we all looked out for one another. Being a teacher will give me the opportunity to give back to my friends and mentors in the town who need someone to raise their children who they trust will do a great job.
I want to be a part of helping my community thrive. You could talk about how you are from a growing community that needs good quality, respectable people who will educate future members of your community. As a teacher, you will be at the heart of ensuring your local town remains a great place to live.
I want to be a part of my community’s decision-making processes. Teachers hold a certain authority: they know how students learn, and they usually have a very deep understanding of what is best for children in order to ensure they thrive. You can talk about how you want to become a person with deep knowledge about the children in your community so you can help guide you community’s decisions around how to raise their young people.

Note that in this group of ideas, ‘community’ represents the close-knit town in which you live, whereas in point 2, I talked about ‘society’, which was the bigger picture of the future of our nation or world rather than just your town.

4. Discuss the personality traits you think you can bring to the role. Here’s how.

You should show how you have reflected on the requirements of the role of teaching and thought about whether you have the personality traits that are required.

Why? Well, you need to be able to show that you know what being a teacher is all about… and that you think you’d be good at it.

So, let’s dive in to 5 personality traits that teachers have, and how you can show you have those traits:

Patience. Patience is an enormously popular skill for teachers to have. You’ll have kids who just don’t understand concepts one iota, and you’ve got to sit there and work with them until they get it. It’s tedious, let me tell you!
Compassion. Patience and compassion go hand-in-hand. If you don’t feel empathy for the kid who’s struggling super hard at learning, you’ll get pretty mad and just give up. You might also say some mean things to the kid! So, compassion is really necessary if you want to become a good teacher.
Open minded. Teachers always need to be learning new things. We often talk about the importance of learning with students more than directly teaching If you set a student a task, you’ll be sending them out to gather as much information on the topic as possible. They’ll often come back with new knowledge and you will want to praise them for teaching you something new.
Enthusiasm. Let me tell you, when it’s Wednesday afternoon in the middle of a hot school week and everyone’s depressed and flat there’s one person to rally the troops: you! Teachers need to wake up every morning, put their happy face on, and march into the classroom with boundless enthusiasm. It’ll motivate your students and make them feel welcome in the learning environment.
Generosity. You need to be generous with your time and praise. You need to be constantly thinking about the students in your care and doing anything you can to help them learn, instil in them a love of learning, and give them the confidence to try anything. Teachers need to be very generous people.

There’s a ton more traits that make a good teacher that you can talk about. These are just a few. Go forth and learn more, and add them to your essay!

5. Conclude with the things you still need to learn. Here’s how.

One more thing: good teachers are constantly learning. As someone studying to be a teacher, you need to remember that there’s a long way to go before you have all the answers. Heck, I’ve been a teacher for nearly a decade and I’m not even half way towards knowing everything about being a good teacher.

So, conclude your essay by highlighting that you understand what the role of a teacher is in society and the key competencies required of a teacher; but then go further and mention your enthusiasm to learn more about the profession over the coming years.

Here’s 5 things you can mention that you still need to learn:

How to teach difficult students. Some students hate school – mostly because of their terrible experiences in the past. You need to learn to get through to difficult students, and this takes time and patience to learn the art of inspiring the uninspired.
How to work with difficult parents. Oh boy, you’ll have a lot of these. You can highlight this as one of the key things you want to work on in the coming years: again, you’ll need to draw on that skill of patience (as well as the skill of diplomacy ) when it comes time to deal with an angry parent.
Diverse strategies for teaching. There are a lot of different ways to go about teaching. Over the years you’ll pick up on the various strategies and tricks different teachers have to help children learn.
Classroom management. This is one of the hardest things young teachers need to learn. And really, it just takes time. Discuss how this is something you want to focus on, and how you’ll use mentors to really work on this skill.
What works and what doesn’t. Great teachers have this intuitive knowledge about what works and what doesn’t, all based upon their deep experience and trial-and-error. The only way to learn to teach is to do it. Over the coming years, you’ll be learning about this. A lot.

You’ll only need one or two paragraphs on this final point, but it’s a great way to end your essay on why you want to become a teacher. It’ll show your humility and eagerness to take on one of the noblest professions in the world.

If you want to learn to write a top notch conclusion, you might also like my post on the 5 C’s Conclusion method .

Before you finish up your essay, you might want to check out my awesome posts on how to improve your essays, like these ones:

How to write a killer Introduction
My perfect paragraph formula , and
How to edit your essay like a pro .

I promised 19 thoughtful points to make in your essay about why you want to be a teacher. Here they are, all summed up in one final list:

Say you want to help children learn more effectively.
Say you want to ensure children have positive mentors.
Say you want to improve children’s lives.
Say you want to help future generations solve the problems of today.
Say you want to help the future generations become good citizens.
Say you want to inspire future generations to create a more equal world.
Say you want to give back to the community you grew up in.
Say you want to be a part of helping your community thrive.
Say you want to be a part of your community’s decision-making processes.
Say you want to share your patience with your students.
Say you want to share your compassion with your students.
Say you want to learn from your students (be ‘open minded’)
Say you want to share your enthusiasm for learning with your students.
Say you want to share your generosity with your students.
Say you’re interested in learning how to teach difficult students.
Say you’re interested in learning how to work with difficult parents.
Say you’re interested in learning diverse strategies for teaching,
Say you’re interested in learning to master classroom management.
Say you’re interested in learning what works and what doesn’t in teaching.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is IQ? (Intelligence Quotient)
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples

How To Answer: Why Did You Decide To Become A Teacher?

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Summary. To answer the, “Why did you decide to become a teacher ?” interview question , be honest and frame your answer with a personal story. Highlight your passion for education and your most valuable skills as well, if it fits naturally with your answer.

Teaching is one of the most important professions in our communities. Teachers help shape the next generation of kids into who they will become.

During the interview, you are likely to be asked, “why did you decide to become a teacher?” The most successful candidates are the ones who can combine all their reasons into a concise and engaging answer.

We will go over how to answer this question sincerely and positively while also highlighting your professional abilities in your response.

Key Takeaways:

Interviewers want to see how passionate you are about the job, how you articulate your skills , how your experience qualifies you for the position, and learn more about you to see if you are a good fit .

When answering this question, you should be honest with your answer and frame your answer with a personal story.

Make sure your answer is positive and avoid bringing anything negative up.

How to Answer Why Did You Become a Teacher

Examples of good answers to why did you decide to be a teacher, tips for giving a good answer, what not to say when explaining why you chose to become a teacher, possible follow-up questions to prepare for, why you want to be a teacher faq.

Be honest with your answer. Job interviewers are very good at detecting authenticity, and a fake response will come across poorly. The interviewer may be concerned that you are not fully committed to a career that needs high levels of personal investment.

However, you do not have to share everything, and some discretion is advised. It will not look good if you answer that the perks of the job, such as long vacations, are your main reasons. You should find an honest answer that acknowledges the educational role you are to fulfill.

So to begin, be honest with yourself. There must be some sort of passion or inspiration that draws you to the career of teaching . This is what you want to build off of, a motivating factor that will help the interviewer see that you are dedicated.

Frame your reason as a personal story. Engaging conversation through storytelling is a particularly important skill in education. Plus, a story is an opportunity to be unique and stand out from other applicants . With the right kind of story, you will be able to leave a memorable impact on the interviewer.

Your answer should focus on the fundamental role of education. You can discuss your love to help others learn. You can talk about how someone in your past inspired you to become a teacher. You can mention how teaching is part of your nature.

Whatever reason you pick, it should show that you have a clear understanding of a teacher’s importance and role. Research the top skills of a teacher and see if you can incorporate them into your answer.

Answer with positivity and grace. Even on their worst days , teachers need to be approachable, so show how you are a welcoming spirit. Warm up to the interview as you would a classroom experience.

Had a Good Teacher Example Answer

“When I was moved to a new town during the middle of fourth grade, I had a hard time adjusting. My teacher took extra time out of her day to make sure I was doing alright. Not only was she concerned about my academics, but she would also ask me how I was doing with making friends or understanding the school and the town. I was very lonely then, and she did a lot to make me feel welcome. Her support gave me the confidence I needed to start making new friends and also keep my grades in check. It stuck with me my whole life and inspired me to do the same for others.”

Enjoy Teaching Example Answer

“In high school, I needed community service credits to graduate, so I volunteered at an after-school program for middle schoolers who needed homework help. I found I got along easily with the kids. I had a knack for breaking down problems into smaller sections, and I loved the funny conversations we would have along the way. It was then I figured, ‘why not do this for a job?’”

Passionate About Subject Example Answer

“After I graduated as an English major , I worked as a journalist for an education magazine. During my time working, I found that I got really excited teaching others about journalism, so I signed up to become a substitute teacher at a local school. Soon I found that my love of writing gave me great energy to teach others.”

Be positive. Nothing will concern an interviewer more if you are cynical and pessimistic in an interview where the job requires a strong sense of empathy and selflessness. This does not mean you can’t, nor should, ignore the challenges of the profession. If you can reframe these difficulties with a positive mindset, a “can-do” attitude, you will strengthen your impact in the interview.

Be concise. A long-winded, rambling answer may give the impression that you have not considered the question ahead of time. That said, if you rush through your words, you may concern the interviewer as well. So, don’t be afraid to take breaths or have moments of silence, but choose your words carefully and effectively. Concise communication is a huge part of teaching, so here is an opportunity to highlight that skill.

Use personal experience. It can help to bring in a personal touch to the response. This creates a unique answer that can help you stand out among other candidates. The personal experience may also reveal a moment of inspiration, pointing towards why you chose to teach as a career.

Remember the job description. Use the skills required in the job description and apply them to yourself as you explain your interest in the field. Integrate them with care; you are not trying to restate your resume . Instead, consider how your skills have developed over time and how that relates to your interest in teaching. Remember, skills are developed through some kind of interest too.

Research the school. Wherever you are applying to is going to have unique characteristics. Perhaps you will be working with low-income students or students with disabilities. You may be able to bring this into your answer. Even if you do not, it is still good to give you context. By understanding where you’re applying to, you strengthen the explanation of why you are applying.

Practice your answer. Before the interview, practice this answer, preferably with someone else who can give you feedback, such as a friend or family member. However, if you do not have that opportunity, practice in front of a mirror or, better yet, record yourself on your phone and listen back to what you said. In the end, you want to “train” for this question by allowing yourself to run through it a couple of times with the chance to tweak your response.

Anything negative. A negative response will be a red flag for the interviewer. If you are one to complain or see the worst in a situation, this will make you a problematic coworker in an already difficult field.

Focusing on money or self-serving gains. Even if the wages and vacation time are an attractive feature of the profession, mentioning this as a reason will hurt you. The interviewer is looking for an answer that goes beyond your own needs.

Unrelated anecdotes. Don’t get caught up in telling stories about education that have nothing to do with you. Remember to keep things relevant and concise.

“Why did you decide to become a teacher?” will usually segue into other questions such as:

How do you plan to manage your classroom?

How will you handle students with different learning styles?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What do you think the biggest challenge for a teacher is?

How do you plan to work with other members of the faculty ?

What is your teaching philosophy?

What do you love about teaching?

Why do you want to work in this school/district?

It is good to prepare for potential follow-up questions. If possible, connect your answers with an overarching theme. For example, if you are passionate about fostering curiosity and creativity, your answers can reinforce one another. This will help you stand out because the interviewer will be able to sum up your interview experience succinctly.

What are some reasons why you should become a teacher?

Some reasons why you should become a teacher include:

A desire to positively impact the lives of children.

A passion for your subject of expertise.

A love of and/or talent for teaching others.

An interest in having an action-packed, people-oriented career.

How do you answer, “Why do you want to be a teacher?”

You answer, “Why do you want to be a teacher?” by telling a personal anecdote that highlights your reason.

Whether it was a teacher that significantly impacted your life or an experience that showed you that you enjoy kids and are good at teaching, providing interviewers with an anecdote is a powerful way to explain your drive for teaching.

American University School of Education – How to Become a Teacher: Steps, Requirements, and Tips

California State University Chico – 10 Reasons to Teach

Western Governors University – Why Become a Teacher?

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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why did i choose to become a teacher essay

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Why Did You Decide To Become A Teacher

Interview Questions and Answers to help you Ace your Interview!

Interview Questions

Why do you want to be a Teacher? 13 Example Answers

Posted by by Emily Adders
February 4, 2023

Why do you want to be a teacher? This is one of the most commonly asked teacher interview questions out there, and it’s one of the trickiest ones to answer as well.

In theory, any aspiring teacher should be able to answer this question with relative ease, but from my experience, this isn’t always the case.

If you find it difficult to explain why you want to be a teacher , here are some key points you should emphasize in your interview:

Your desire to help students succeed.
Your enthusiasm and dedication to teaching.
Your love of working with children.
Your ability to inspire students.
Your willingness to go the extra mile for your students.
Your commitment to helping bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world experience.
Your aspiration to become a role model for students.

Here are 13 example answers you can use as a basis to answer “why do you want to be a teacher?”. As always, try to add your own unique touch to whichever answer you like.

1. “I believe teaching is more than just imparting knowledge; it’s also about instilling values and inspiring enthusiasm for learning. I am devoted to the idea that all students should have access to quality education and I’m determined to help them reach their full potential. ”

2. “I want to be a teacher because I believe in the importance of education for creating a better society. Teaching provides me with an opportunity to shape young minds and inspire the next generation to become productive, successful citizens.”

3. “I’m a teacher because I love working with children and watching them grow. I find it incredibly rewarding to see a student’s face light up when they finally understand a concept or have success in an area where they were struggling.”

4. “I want to be a teacher because I believe that every child deserves to have access to quality education, regardless of their background or economic situation. Teaching provides me with an opportunity to make sure that all students are given the right tools and knowledge to achieve success in life.”

5. “I’ve always had a passion for teaching and I want to share my knowledge with others in order to help them reach their goals. I believe that education is the key to a successful future and I want to do my part in making sure every student has access to quality education.”

Related: 11 qualities of a good teacher.

6. “I am passionate about helping students learn and grow, both academically and personally. As a teacher, I have an opportunity to make an impact on young people during a critical time in their lives by teaching them important life skills and providing guidance that will help shape their future.”

7. “I love being around children and inspiring them to reach for the stars! I believe that a good teacher has the ability to motivate students, bring out new talents, and instil a lifelong passion for learning. This is what motivates me to pursue a career in teaching.”

8. “I believe that education is a right, not a privilege, and I want to do my part in creating equal access to quality education for all students. Being a teacher allows me to become an advocate for those who are underserved and underrepresented in our educational system.”

9. “I have always been interested in working with children and teaching felt like the perfect match for my skills and interests. I am excited by the prospect of helping children reach their full potential and guiding them in their pursuit of a successful future.”

10. “I believe that teachers play an important role in creating a better future through education, and I want to be part of that process. As a teacher, I have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of my students and help ensure that they have access to quality education.”

11. “I am motivated by the idea that teaching provides me with an opportunity to mould young minds and shape our society for the better. Teaching is about more than just imparting knowledge; it’s also about inspiring enthusiasm for learning and instilling values that can last a lifetime. ”

12. “I want to be a teacher because I believe in the power of education to make our world a better place. I am passionate about helping students learn and discover their potential, while also providing them with the encouragement they need to strive for success.”

13. “I have always been passionate about learning, and teaching helps me share this passion with others. I find great joy in being able to help my students understand difficult concepts and grow academically. Working as a teacher is an incredible privilege, and I am excited to work with students of all ages.”

Related: Why should we hire you as a teacher?

Wrapping up

Whether you are passionate about teaching, have always dreamed of being a teacher, or simply believe that it’s the best way for you to make a difference in the world, it’s important to express your motivations clearly and honestly.

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Future Educators

Helping America's Future Teachers

I Want to Become a Teacher Because | My Dream Job Essay

My dream is to become a teacher . If you have this dream, you’re not alone. Here’s a collection of short essays by aspiring teachers. Current and future education students were asked to describe their motivation; what inspires them to succeed at their teacher training studies.

In these 31 student essays, future educators answer the question “I want to become a teacher because …” or “I want to become a teacher to …”. The short student essays are grouped thematically, forming the top reasons to become a teacher.

1. Giving Brings Its Own Rewards

Helping people is the unifying theme as to why students are inspired and motivated to become teachers. Education is a field where you can help young people directly in a personal way; potentially changing their lives for the better. Teaching is more than just a job.

For a significant percentage of education students, the opportunity to be of service provides plenty of motivation to pursue a teaching career. In each Why I Want to Become a Teacher essay here, a future educator explains why teaching is an opportunity to do something meaningful and beneficial.

by Hanna Halliar

If I can make an impact in just one child’s life, I will be able to consider myself successful. That is my motivation. As a future educator, what else would it be?

Every day that is spent in class, the late nights at the library, the endless hours of studying are all just steps getting me closer to the goal. When I am still up at 1 a.m. struggling to keep my eyes open, but only half way through my 6 page paper I remember how excited I am to work with my own students one day.

To me, being a teacher is so much more than the typical response most people have towards education majors. “Oh, you’re going to be a teacher. You know how much you will make?” Yes, I’m aware that I will be making an average of $50,000 a year in Indiana.

To me being a teacher means that I get the opportunity to not only teach my students math, English, and science but to teach life lessons that will stick with them as well. It means walking into school every day being the reason my students look forward to coming to school. It means being surrounded by crafts, books, and music and not being stuck in an office. It means educating our future generation. And if somebody has to do it, it should be somebody who is passionate about it.

So what motivates me to study? It is so simple, it is the kids.

by Savannah Stamates

I lay awake at night and practice my first morning message to my first round of students whom I will not meet for more than a year.

I wonder if I will have hungry children, happy children, or broken children. I wonder if I will be good enough or strong enough to reach those most in need. I wonder if my students will trust me enough to tell me that they are hungry, happy, or scared.

I worry that I will not be strong enough to share their burden or provide a place for peace and learning. I worry that I will misread their actions or their words or miss them reaching out.

So I study, even when I am tired from working two jobs or sick of not being where I want to be. When my time comes to walk into that classroom, my worries and doubts will be silenced by the knowledge I have mastered and the dream I have finally achieved.

by Charity Latchman

Dreams for the future are subjective. They can be based on what we desire. But visionary dreams are not only for us. Imagine asking some of the greatest revolutionaries and pioneers about their dreams. They generally had others in mind. In the famous “I have a Dream” speech, Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr said “we” more than thirty times. Dreams are not for our benefit alone, but to encourage, inspire and benefit others.

Recently I graduated from California Baptist University with a degree in English literature. During my studies, I was cared for my disabled mother. She was a religious studies professor who inculcated me with a diligent and steadfast approach to schoolwork. Managing the role of caregiver with university studies was challenging. But the goal to become a teacher kept me going. Approaching graduation, my mother was diagnosed with throat cancer. She didn’t worry about herself as much as you might expect but kept pushing me to finish the final paper in the program.

With her encouragement, my faith, and a burning desire to teach English literature, I graduated. My motivation comes from wanting to help, to encourage, and to inspire others. Teaching is an act of giving that has its own rewards. Life’s trials bring ups and downs. But we must always strive to attain our dreams, especially when others are central to them.

by Katheryn England

As a high school senior, many people assume I’m prepared for college and know what I want to study after graduation. These assumptions cause me to experience moments of self-doubt. Then I re-evaluate what I want for myself, and what it is that keeps me working towards my dreams. Through the goals I’ve set for myself, I can maintain focus, move past my self-doubt and succeed. By focusing on my goals, I can make a difference in the world directly around me.

A goal I have in my life is to be an elementary teacher, also known as an early childhood teacher. As a teacher, I can share the knowledge I’ve gained to leave behind a better future for our world .

Last year, I had the opportunity to work alongside a previous elementary teacher and mentor of mine. I’d visit her classroom daily, and taught lessons alongside her or independently. Uniquely, they were the opening act in my high school’s original winter play. They read first-hand from our scripts and learned what happens behind the scenes. Showing a new part of the world to the youth of my community has motivated me to pursue my dreams.

Remembering this experience and the positive influence I had on those students helps me overcome self-doubt and stay focused on my goals. Thanks to the goals I’ve set for my life, I not only can find purpose for my efforts, but find the will to be confident in whatever choices I make.

by Emma Lillard-Geiser

I have always known that I would become two things: a mother and a teacher. What I didn’t know is that I would become the mother before the teacher. Having a child that depends on me is what fuels my desire to succeed in life. When I get frustrated with my studies I take a deep breath, look at my daughter, and know that I have reason to persevere. I know that one hour of studying will give me hours with my daughter as soon as I am done.

My mother is a teacher and growing up I cherished learning from her. She had knowledge that I admired and I quickly realized that I had to spend my whole life learning. I love to learn, to have that light go off in my head when it all just clicks.

I cannot wait to see that light in the eyes of my daughter and my future students. For every thing that I learn, is another thing I can teach someone else. It isn’t easy to study when you have a small child to take care of but I know that my education will provide me with the ability to take care of her for the rest of our lives.

2. Help Disadvantaged Students

Students are disadvantaged for many reasons, whether it’s because of a handicap, where they live, economic disadvantage or a language barrier.

Future educators may want to become teachers so they can make a difference in the lives of students who face extra learning challenges. This special interest often comes from the future teacher’s own experience, either personally or involving people they’ve known.

by Ian T Thomason

While attending the University of Minnesota-Mankato, I have aspirations of becoming a Special Education Teacher. Becoming a Special Education Teacher and helping students who have a need for extra help and students who are having troubles with everyday life are things that I dream of doing. I was in their shoes once and know how difficult it is to deal with everyday life and how nice it was have a teacher to talk to.

Becoming a Special Education Teacher is my ultimate goal and, when difficult times arise, I have to remind myself of the children out there who have it potentially worse than I. When I remember this, I also think back to all of the support that I had from my parents, family members, and teachers. I also know that there are lots of children who don’t have this type of support and, if I can be there for them, that would make my career choice all the more worth it.

My Special Education degree is something more than just a degree for me. It is a degree that allows me to help children improve their education. I realize that children are our future and that their minds are terrible things to waste. So, instead of wasting their minds, why not put our best foot forward to educate them? My dream is to help kids realize their full potential, promote education and a brighter future for every child.

by Katherine

Motivation allows you to persist through difficult circumstances. Mine comes from a desire to grow into an instructor who is able to make a difference to many children’s lives.

In elementary school, I actually was a special education student. I’ve had to work hard most days of my life to achieve anything. I could not have succeeded without the support of some absolutely amazing teachers. Now I desire to take on that supporting role for as many students as I can reach.

When a class or an assignment I don’t want to do come up, I think of what motivates me. And the motivation is children. Many students feel powerless about their education, just like I did. I could be a teacher who turns their education around, providing vital support and motivation to succeed at their studies. Ultimately, everyone motivates themselves by one way or another. My motivation comes from the pure desire to help future students.

by Robbie Watson

My road to graduate school has been a long one. I studied religion and culture in undergrad, interested in the material, yet not sure how I would apply it later. Yet I found places, got involved in community and international development, engaged with different cultures, and now feel I use my degree every day.

For over two years I worked alongside Congolese refugees in Rwanda, developing educational opportunities for youths who could not finish secondary school in the underfunded camps. It is these refugees, young and old, the students, the teachers, their passion and vision for a better future that has driven me to seek out more education for myself. I remember how they would pay from their families’ meager funds to attend classes led by volunteer teachers. When finances were against them, or time, or family obligations, or the dire depression of the camp life itself, or even government officials were against them, still those students attended, still those teachers taught.

It is their example of perseverance towards a goal against all odds that inspires me now. I think of them often, think of the friends they were, are still. And I think of how that passion is in me now, to better understand education so that I might better educate, and thus equip such downtrodden communities to work for transformation themselves. I work not only for myself, and am motivated by the potential in those students and educators, which is also in me, and in others like them.

by Natalie Pelayo

I’m a young Latino woman working towards the goal of earning a bachelor degree in bilingual education. On occasions, I feel a slowing in my motivation. But, every time it happens, I think about the goal and that pushes me to move forward.

Looking back to a middle school class I attended, there was a boy who never really participated. He sat in his hoodie, looking down to his desk. Only after trying to talk with him, I discovered he spoke with broken English and a thick Spanish accent. It seemed as if no-one in our class actually knew that he struggled to understand what was being taught because it was presented in English.

By his manner, it was apparent that he had already accepted a dismal fate. Past teachers may have been unable to communicate with him. Eventually, he’d become demoralized. Thinking about the disadvantages he had to endure provides ongoing motivation to study hard.

I aim to become a bilingual elementary school teacher to support young Spanish-speaking children. As a teacher, I’ll be able to show them that they can succeed. Children need not grow up thinking they’re incapable of learning due to a language barrier. I’ll keep working towards my goal to help ensure teaching is inclusive of all children, no matter their first language.

by Abigail Young

I am an American citizen, but my whole life I have lived in Cameroon, Africa. I have been blessed with an enormous amount of opportunities and a great education at a private international school.

Every day I have seen children and teenagers around me who do not get the same education or have the same possibilities of a “bright” future. I see schools that are forced to have three children share a small table, paper, and pens. I have seen a badly lit room with poor roofs and walls made from bricks. Even in my school there are numerous Cameroonians, my friends, and classmates that do not have the same chances at a higher level education, although they work just as hard.

When I study, I study hard because I do not want to let this chance and opportunity go to waste. I study because I have been undeservedly blessed to be able to go the United States for a high education with better chances at getting scholarship money. I study my hardest because it is my dream that I may come back and make a difference in countries like Africa with poor education systems . It should be a right for children to be able to learn like I have. Therefore, because of this mindset, I am driven to study not just out of thankfulness for my circumstances, but also in hope that I may be able to give other children a better chance, and a greater reason to study.

3. Helping Many People Is Achievable in Teaching

A powerful source of motivation for some education students is the potential to touch and positively impact the lives of many people. Education is a field of consequence and that’s a good reason for wanting to join the teaching profession.

Over the course of a long career, a classroom teacher may help shape the learning experience of hundreds or even thousands of students. In policy roles, educators can affect millions of people.

by Rachel Bayly

Through high school I worked as a teacher at a daycare. When I left for college I said goodbye to a lot of people, including my students. All summer I had woken up at five in the morning to go to work and wait for them to arrive and put a smile on my face. Those kids motivated me to keep waking up and working hard, and leaving them was not easy.

The thing that made that goodbye worth it, the reason that I keep pushing through this tying chapter of my life is that I am determined to improve early childhood education in the United States .

I want to be a positive force in the lives of as many children as I possibly can, and I plan on doing that by improving standards and policies for early childhood education and making it more affordable.

Every week I write in my planner, “I will make a difference” and one way that I will change the lives of children and families. On days that I find myself asking, “why am I here?” “why am I going into debt, paying to be stressed out all the time?” I think of my students. I read my “I will make a difference” statements.

I remember that some children out there are stuck in low quality child care centers, they will never reach their full potential, and they need help. I keep working hard everyday so that I can help those children.

by Megan Burns

My ultimate goal is to change the lives of people. Studying to be a teacher is hard. All of the classes that are required, all of the practicums, and all of the time spent just to become a teacher is stressful, but the thought of being able to help just one person changes everything.

It takes one person to be a light in someone’s life. It take one person to be a helping hand. It takes one person to change an unmotivated, broken life, and make it brand new. Qualified teachers are those people. We motivate students to do their best, we guide students to success when no one else will, and we are always available to listen. One teacher can change the lives of thousands of students. That is my motivation.

I know that after college, I will be a teacher, a guider, a counselor, and a friend to so many students. No matter how many bad days I have or how many times I want to quit, I just think of what is to come in the future. I can be that change this world needs, even if its in a small high school classroom. It just takes one person.

by Victoria Shoemkaer

My dream is to make a difference in the life of children.

To make them excited about learning.
To make it fun the way it used to be when they were younger.
To show them that someone cares about them and wants to see them succeed.
To show that they are much more that a test score or a number.
To believe in them so much, that I do not let them get discouraged from chasing their dreams.
To showing them that everyone fails and it’s your recovery that determines what happens next.
To sacrifice myself to gives them more opportunities for success.
To encourage students to succeed in and out of the classroom for the betterment of themselves and the community.
To inspire them to change the world, because they can.
To help them transform into caring and compassionate adults who are ready to conquer the word, but remember where they came from.
To teach them to do good in the world because anyone can accomplish doing well.

Most importantly, my dream is to make children feel like their voice is important and valued and that they are loved more than they know.

4. Lives Can Be Improved by Dedicated Instructors

Teaching a subject such as Math or English is the everyday task of a teacher. But our prospective teachers see a greater purpose in their training and career path.

The daily motivation to teach doesn’t come from the superficial advantages of a teaching career, such as great job security or extra vacation time. Here are stories by future educators who want to go beyond the curriculum and improve people’s lives all round.

by Savannah Luree Weverka

Teachers are the ones who ignited my love for learning and there is not a day that goes by when I do not challenge myself to a personal goal of lifelong learning.

My mother is a teacher, so I was a student educated in an institution filled with support and a home that also supported education. I recall many teacher “get-togethers” and Husker parties where an informal invitation led to my presence.

Due to all of this support and interaction received throughout my elementary and high school career, Elementary Education continues to be at the top of my career choices. And now, as a senior looking forward to graduating from high school, teachers remain my role models .

In considering a focus in Elementary Education, I now realize that many teachers not only teach children eight hours of the day, but become doctors for scraped knees, dictionaries for challenging words, mediators between students, and parents away from home.

Now, as I am taking the steps to make my dream come true I hope to make school an escape to free their minds and expand their knowledge. I want to share my love of learning with my students.

by Aaron Banta

Since I was younger, I have had the dream of becoming a history teacher at the high school level. The reason I am striving for this career is thanks to a teacher I had. They held such a passion for history and taught it so well that it made me want to keep learning everything I could about it.

In college, I have had to work multiple jobs and attend school full-time. I would wake up early in the morning and not get home until late at night. The one thing that kept me on top of my studying and work was the dream I have; to be able to teach history and express my love for it by teaching the next generation. I strive to impact their lives for the better just like mine was.

Being able to pass my courses and get a degree and teaching credentials is the first main goal I am striving for. But being able to have a positive impact on students I have will be an even greater goal that I want to accomplish. I am hoping to guide them through their study of my favorite subject so I can teach them about the world and help them just like my teacher had helped me.

by Chelsea Rogers

At USC Upstate, I am studying to be a Secondary Education Mathematics teacher. The math courses are not easy and the education courses pushes you to challenge yourself. The thought of being a future teacher is what motivates me to keep pushing.

Although I do not know any of my students, they are precious to me and I believe it is my job to change their lives for the better. Teaching math is my job, but looking beyond my content and into the wellbeing of my students is my passion.

The question I always ask myself is how can I teach students who may not trust me? I have to establish a connection with each student so that they will see I care about them academically, physically, and emotionally. Once students see that you care about them in these areas, it becomes easier to teach them and they are willing to perform to the best of their ability because they know their teacher supports them 100 percent. Being a great teacher is what motivates me to continue striving for my degree.

by Micayla Watroba

One plus one is two. Phone is pronounced with an F sound. 60 divided by 15 is 4. An essay typically has five paragraphs. I know all these things because I went to school. I also had teachers that helped me understand it even when I didn’t get the same opportunities as everyone else.

See, when I was in first grade I was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. This made school very hard. I was either out of school so often that I missed entire chapters or I was bullied so badly that I couldn’t focus because I was so scared. Having cancer also made it hard for my mom and dad to pay for food and rent much less after school activities and tutoring. I grew up knowing that there were some things that were just not in reach for us.

For as bad as I had it, I can’t imagine having to live on the streets, going hungry, or even being taught in a language I don’t know.

My dream is to be the teacher that makes sure that every student gets an education that helps them succeed. I want to make sure that my students not only enjoy being at school but feel safe while there. My students will know that it doesn’t matter where they came from or what background they came from. I am going to be there and I will not leave them behind. This is my dream.

5. Promote Lifelong Learning in Young People

What inspires some people to become teachers is the power to set young people on the right education path. Helping children to have good early experiences and embrace the learning process can profoundly enhance someone’s life. The potential for transformative early development applies to handicapped and disadvantaged kids as much as anyone.

by Lesley Martinez-Silva

I aspire to make a difference in others’ lives through education. I’m studying to be an elementary school teacher because I believe that children can achieve so much more if they learn early of their potential.

Education has always been my priority. My parents always stressed the importance of obtaining an education, having missed that opportunity themselves. My parents taught me as a child that schooling was vital to success in life. Truly, that lesson has been the most important in my path to college. I don’t think I would’ve made it this far had I not taken my education seriously.

I want to teach others about the importance of education so they too can prosper. Everything I’m learning at university is important for my future career and, if I don’t study it, I’m failing my future students. Every child deserves the best education available and I should strive to be the best educator possible to provide that for them. When balancing academics, work, and my social life, it can get challenging to keep going. But, with the future of children’s education in my hands, I always get back on track.

by Brianna Rivers

One of my goals is to become a teacher and work in an public elementary school within the greater Boston area (possibly my own elementary school). I want to be a teacher because I enjoy working with children and I know how important teachers are in children’s lives. I plan on receiving my Bachelor’s degree for Early Childhood Education and my Master’s degree in Special Education.

I want to major in Early Childhood Education because early education is significant for children and is a building block for their future in learning . I also want to major in Special Education because I believe all children should receive equal learning opportunities as well as equal treatment (meaning an inclusive environment, etc).

I think all of my experiences have a positive impact on myself because I am learning more about what it takes to be a teacher and what it takes to be a good teacher. My experiences also have a positive impact on the children and adults I work with. I offer a helping hand to the teachers and a friendly face to the children.

I plan to continue to work hard and take advantage of learning opportunities to achieve both of my goals. Being a teacher is my desire and I will stop at nothing to be a great teacher one day.

by Jennamarie Moody

When I close my eyes, I picture myself in a school located in an urban setting, teaching a classroom of diverse yet alike students. These students are in the second grade, meaning that they are impressionable yet vulnerable to their environment whether this means at home, at school, or in their greater community.

Some of these students don’t speak English as their first language, and some come from low-income households that can limit their educational experiences outside of the classroom. And yet, no matter what differences these students bring to the table, their uniqueness flows throughout the classroom in such a positive energy that embraces, respects, and promotes learning. This is the goal I am working towards; the goal to inspire our youth to become self-advocates for their learning .

Opportunities for equal educational experiences may not exist, however the beauty lies in the growth of love young students can develop as they are challenged in the classroom to question their surroundings. I plan to make a difference in the lives of the children I meet along the way, and to create a safe learning environment.

Although the tests for certification and studies can be difficult, my passion for education and dedication to shaping the lives of my students is what keeps me going. The end goal is to nurture the development of my students to become active and engaged participants in society, and that is what I intend to do completely.

by Julie Anderson

My long-time goal has been to become a teacher, and this year I’m in a class called Teachers for Tomorrow, where I get to shadow a kindergarten teacher. Working with her and the students has increased my interest in children with special needs.

From here on out, I want to support my students in academics and other parts of their lives so I can help them learn, grow, and succeed. I know that children need a strong start to their school career because the first few years of school are crucial; this is when students begin to love or hate learning itself. Whether or not children enjoy school, they deserve to appreciate learning. Students who love learning will always want to improve themselves.

I will make an effort to provide a loving environment where each child can prosper. However, for students with special needs, this task becomes even harder to accomplish because traditional classrooms are usually set up for non-disabled students. While I know I can’t “save” every student I teach, and some of them will still hate learning, at least I can start them off right.

When I’m swamped with schoolwork, I will imagine my future students and how I could influence their lives. Even though not all of my college classes will relate to my major, forming a habit of working hard in college will help me to succeed as a future teacher.

6. Teachers Are Excellent Role Models

The experience of being helped and transformed by a good teacher leaves a lasting impression. Teaching is considered a noble profession for good reasons.

Some education students are motivated to become a teacher to emulate their own role models. They want to provide the same kind of service they once received. An added reason for pursuing a teaching career is to be a role model to younger people outside the classroom, including one’s own children.

by Teresa Pillifant

My first day – well, more like first semester- of my freshman year in high school was the hardest semester of my whole school career. Usually the kind of student who loves school, I found myself getting stomach aches in the morning and dreading school with my whole being. I was new to the school, and the number of students was overwhelming.

It seemed like there was no relief, except for my first hour Spanish class. Having no friends, I would always arrive at my first hour class early. As this pattern continued, my Spanish teacher and I developed a relationship. My teacher started giving me books to read, asking my opinion on what we should do in class and just talked to me in general about life. Through my teacher’s support, I grew to find my place in the school and became more confident.

Her kind words and actions inspired me to become a teacher myself. Now, whenever school or life gets difficult, I think of my freshmen year Spanish teacher and how she inspired me. I want to do what she did for me for my future students. Whether it be a difficult test or a challenging class, my goal of making a difference in a student’s life keeps me going.

by Mo Cabiles

The world we live in is hard, unsteady and ruthless. We see this everyday in the harshness of homelessness, to social media screaming for justice. What motivates me to continue on is that I have felt the bitter cold bite of homelessness. I know what it’s like to not have enough to eat and to be scared of what will happen next.

I am fortunate to no longer be in those situations but that, by no means, is an indicator that it will all now come easy. As an adult learner and your “non-traditional” student, there are other obstacles I must overcome. From transportation to childcare or education application mastery to APA formatting, the many roadblocks I tackle both large and small are what I consider to be my victories.

I’ve seen what having a higher education can do for someone and I want that for myself and that of my daughters. I strive to be a good example for them , to show them that, regardless of social standing and unforeseeable circumstances, if they work hard and put their best effort forward, they can achieve their dreams.

My dream is to obtain my Masters in Education with an emphasis in counseling. I want to be an academic advisor or guidance counselor. I’ve seen so many youths attempt community college and fail because they fell through the cracks. These students need to realize their potential and I want to help them achieve that and to be their cheerleader.

by Gia Sophia Sarris

In every school I’ve ever attended, experienced teachers were there to support and inspire me. I have looked up to these people ever since I was in elementary school, and they have had an immense and positive impact on my life and my view of the world. My fondness for these people [educators] has led me to aspire to become a teacher.

I want to “pay it forward” and improve the lives of children and teenagers who grow up struggling as I did, or in any way for that matter. I want to make a difference in their lives and let them know that they are not alone with their problems.

This is what motivates me to study hard. Becoming a teacher, I believe, will help me fulfill my purpose in life, which I think is to create happiness and ease the burdens of others. I feel that children and teenagers need this especially, because they are struggling to understand the world and their place in it. I study hard for their sake.

by Jennifer Wolfert

From elementary school to my first year at college, I struggled to establish a dream for myself. Trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue as successful adult always filled me with anxiety. I had spent multiple years in special education and left with a low academic self-esteem. So, after high school I attended Bucks County Community College in search for more time. Still I made no progress. Then I decided to change my outlook. I stopped asking “what do I want to do?” and started asking “who do I want to be?”. That’s when my dream took shape.

The educators that I met during my time at community college were my inspiration. They are brilliant, hardworking people with a passion for their specialty that I had never seen before. Their belief in hard work was infectious. School began to fill me with excited anticipation and my grades improved. I started to believe that if I worked hard enough then I could be like them and inspire others like they had inspired me.

At the end of my second year attending community college, I accomplished a task that had previously racked me with fear. I applied to Temple University as a Secondary English Education major. I have now completed my second semester at Temple and earned my first 4.0 GPA. In time, I am confident that I will be able to accomplish my dream. I will become the passionate and inspiring educator that my younger self never had.

by Jenyfer Pegg

My entire life has been filled with discouragement. I grew up in a household where I was constantly told “No”. I was told my ideas were stupid and would not work. In my junior year of high school, my teachers and counselors started talking about college and sending in applications to different places. At that point, I knew I was not going. I came from a poor family and I knew we could never have money for something like college.

But I went on college visits, I listened to people speak about their college, and I was set. I had a lot of things pushing me, except the one thing I really wanted, my family. No one in my family has gone to college, and when I told my mother, she was shocked. She told me she just wanted me out of the house.

When I came to school, I realized I wanted to teach high school. I want to make an actual difference in someone else’s life. My family has taken the same road for years, and I’m not going down that road. I won’t live paycheck to paycheck like my mom, I will be a person that others will look up to.

I’m going to do something worthwhile, and I will work harder than anyone else if it gets me there. I’ve seen what my life will be like without school and motivation and there is absolutely no way I’m going down that road. I’ve got bigger plans.

7. Unlock the Success Potential of Students

Educators want to help students in every way they can but, for some future teachers, the focus is on helping students soar. That child in front of you in the classroom might grow up to do great things for society, raise a strong family, or just be happy and fulfilled.

Whatever the potential of a pupil, a teacher’s job is to help unlock talents and remove any barriers to future success.

by Tamara Vega

The thing that motivates me the most is the thought of having my own classroom someday. I want to be the teacher that changes a child’s life, inspires them to set high goals for themselves and encourages them to reach it.

College can be so hard at times and I get really anxious and scared. I worry about not passing my classes and exams, I worry about not getting my degree. Despite that I do not give up because I have to do this and I want to do this.

I cannot see myself doing anything else besides teaching, I have never been this passionate about something. I want to graduate and get my degree. I’d love to look at it and say, “I worked hard for this and I earned it”.

The idea that the students in my classroom could grow up to cure cancer, or become president, pretty much anything they want, brings me so much excitement. I want to be the teacher that they remember, the one who helped them realize their dream and who gave them the knowledge needed to reach it.

Be the teacher that I needed as a child but unfortunately never had. That is what gets me through all the stress and anxiety, I know in my heart that all the studying I’m doing right now will be worth it in the end.

by Nicole Gongora

The dream of success motivates me to study – not my success, my future students’ success. I push myself through the rough spots for them.

I was a lost child in high school; I didn’t know how to apply to college, let alone afford it. No child should have to experience that. As a future educator, I am committed to helping my students succeed, achieve more, and continue onto higher education. Every child should be given the opportunity to showcase their strengths and follow their dreams.

College was never a dream for me; it was a far off, unattainable fantasy. I met some inspiring teachers in high school who encouraged me to change my life and who helped me to thrive. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I plan to work at a low-income school similar to the one I attended. These types of schools are the ones who lack resources. I will serve as a resource to my students and I hope to be an inspiration to them. In turn, I hope they become kind, respectful adults. I want them to see the virtue in helping others and I hope they will serve others in their future careers. I want to be the teacher they remember. I want to be the teacher that helped them succeed.

I’ll feel successful as a teacher if my students are successful in attaining their goals. If one student decides to achieve more then I will have lived out my dream.

by Madison Sherrill

I’ve decided to become a teacher because I want to show the value of compassion and diversity.

As I begin college this upcoming fall, my main motivation is the students. While I haven’t even met them yet, they inspire me to persist in my classes and stay optimistic. My classroom will support innovative thinking and celebrate each student’s individuality.

As a classroom teacher, I want to encourage and positively influence the next generation. They should know that they can be successful and achieve what they aspire to become while making the world better. By teaching the value of inclusiveness and the power of kindness, my students may turn out to be visionary thinkers and leading members of society.

by Alicia Costin

I am returning to school after taking a few years off. After graduating from California Lutheran University with my BS in Mathematics, I wanted to land a job with benefits and begin my “adult life”.

While it took me a few months to find my current job, is it just that; a job. I have benefits, a full-time schedule, weekends and holidays off, but am I happy? Is this what I want to do as a career for the rest of my life? I have asked myself this question a few times and the answer is always the same; no.

My dream is to become a teacher and help motivate and encourage students to do their best in their studies and in life. It is my dream to do what I was meant to do; shape young minds and help future generations.

When things become difficult during my graduate program, I know to keep pushing, thriving, and studying hard so that, when I do become a teacher, I can use this as a positive story to shape their way of life. I landed a job outside of college, however now it is time for me to land my career.

Who taught the first teacher, what can i do with a master’s in education, why teaching is still a good career choice, how to become a homeschool teacher.

Why I Want to Be a Teacher Essay: Writing Guide [2024]

Some people know which profession to choose from childhood, while others decide much later in life. However, and whenever you come to it, you may have to elaborate on it in your personal statement or cover letter. This is widely known as “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” essay.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

The primary reasons to pursue this career are:

Raising new generations and changing the world for the better are your goals.
You have all the qualities and skills to become a teacher.
Duties, responsibilities, and creativity that the profession involves fascinate you.
Growing up, you had a fantastic teacher who became your role model.

If you’re having trouble coming up with arguments, you have come to the right place! Here, at Custom-Writing , we gathered all the essential tips to use in a “being a teacher” essays.

🎓 7 Reasons to Become a Teacher

🛑 7 reasons not to become a teacher.

📜 Paper Types

✍️ “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” Essay

📑 “why i want to be a teacher” personal statement, 🖨️ 50 teacher essay topics, 🤔 why i want to be a teacher faq, 🔗 references.

Why do you want to be a teacher? Being one seems manageable if it’s your dream job. At the same time, it’s the hardest profession that wouldn’t fit everyone. Check the following reasons to become a teacher that you can use in your paper.

Also, the following points are entirely appropriate for children. If they have a task like a “When I grow up, I want to become a teacher because…” essay, they will find this section useful.

🌱 Raising New Generations

Do you think that future generations require different teaching? Do you have an idea of a new proper approach? Whatever you believe, make sure to write about it:

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Elaborate on the problem:

Would you like to see a more environmentally-conscious generation? Or do you find that kids lack concentration and the will to succeed? Explain why you consider children and teens need guidance.

To support your argument, give statistics and real-life examples of the problems modern children and teens have. Provide the leading causes and solutions for this issue in your “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” essay.

Talk about your reasoning:

How did you understand that the problem above exists? You have to write why you thought about it in the first place.

For example, siblings. Do you have a younger sibling? Or a nephew who often asks you to play with him or her? Then, in your “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” essay, you might mention that this child helped you choose a future career.

Explain why you:

What makes you think you might be a good teacher? Does the child enjoy spending time with you? Did you manage to teach the child something useful? Make sure to discuss this in your essay.

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So, are you ready to write about raising new generations? Check this essay sample below to ensure your success:

🎨 Creativity in Teaching

In this kind of essay, you would shift the focus from yourself to the teacher’s profession in general. You’ll elaborate on why you find this profession a great creative outlet.

Talk about creativity that you’ll bring to the classroom. Use this reasoning to explain why this profession is one of a kind and appropriate for you in particular. Do you think that you might use your creative abilities to become an excellent teacher?

To underline your points:

Share several ideas on how to educate children using innovative approaches. Kids are naturally compelling storytellers because of their sincerity and imagination. Maybe, you’ll find a way to use it.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

🔍 Qualities of a Good Teacher

All the educator’s responsibilities require communication and writing skills. They have to acquire accountability, patience, creativity, etc.

You may be wondering: how can this topic help me explain why I want to become a teacher? The essay should compare the qualities of a good teacher with your own. Thus, you’ll show how good you are for the position.

Do you believe that a good teacher should be kind? If positive, mention some example that proves your desire to help. For example, you might have volunteered at an animal shelter.
Do you argue that a good teacher should be knowledgeable? Tell your readers about your good grades in college.

Still, wondering about how to write a good paper on an educator’s qualities? Check the useful teacher essay sample, written by a student:

🏫 Duties and Responsibilities

While this topic may sound similar to the previous ones, it’s all about how you present your arguments and structure your narrative. This topic offers you an opportunity to examine the day-to-day lives of teachers.

First of all , you can describe the duties and responsibilities of a teacher. Explore it, be it grading assignments, cooperating and communicating with parents, or continuously learning.

Secondly , you can focus on the aspects of teaching that you find rewarding. You can add in your essay writing the sadness that a teacher feels when his or her students graduate. Or talk about the joy they experience when they see students learning and improving their grades.

Whichever approach you choose, make sure it’s beneficial for you and reveals your strong sides.

👩‍🏫 My Best Teacher

This type of essay is similar to the previous ones. Here, you also describe the characteristics of an excellent teacher. There is, however, one key difference:

Rather than describing some abstract figures, you would describe a real-life teacher. Talk about the person who served as a role model and inspired you to pursue this career.

The premise of this essay is excellent:

First , you show an understanding of what the job of a teacher encompasses. Second , you also demonstrate your appreciation for someone who made a difference in your life.

“My best teacher” topic is an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to your teacher or a trainer who has significantly influenced your life.

🦉 Changing the World

How many times have you heard that teachers change the world? It might sound quite trivial, but they do. Educators have a significant impact on the new generation’s development and their effect on society. Their influence expands to every sphere of our life, from business to community, from ecology to economics.

Here are the four secrets of how teachers change the world:

Sharing. A good educator shares their knowledge with others: students and colleagues. They bring their ideas and concepts to conferences, write blogs, and hold school meetings. Everyone benefits from this sharing. An educator gets feedback while their audience learns something new and motivating. Yes, it takes a lot of effort to set aside time for this, especially when you have a tight schedule. But it’s worth it. Think, would learning theories have ever existed if teachers didn’t share them?
Caring. Educators not only care for their students, but in most cases, they actively participate in charity. Think about what impact it can have when students, parents, and teachers work together for something significant. It can be anything: from planting trees to fundraising for cancer. Such activities help students to gain valuable experience in helping others and saving our planet. In most cases, they will continue doing so even after graduation.
Networking. In daily lives, teachers overcome various challenges. The networking and learning from other’s experiences allow the educator to see alternative points of view, motivate others, and find out new approaches to teaching.
Reflection. Educators regularly analyze what works and what not at their lessons. Regular observations help them adjust the curriculum or change teaching methods. A critical approach to their work allows the educator to optimize and make their job more impactful.

Now you have all the arguments to consider in your essay about the teacher’s profession.

Teaching is not easy and not a profession you should choose unless ready to face all its challenges. And here’s the “shortlist” of them:

Low salary. Yes. Educators from all over the world don’t get paid enough. On average, teachers’ weekly wages are 19.6% lower than those of other professions. So if you are not ready to live, hardly able to make ends meet, being a school educator is not your number one career choice.
Teachers spend their salaries on students and school staff. Most teachers spend a part of their earnings on purchasing school tools and gear. In 2012-2013, K-12 educators spent 1.6 billion dollars on classroom supplies. That’s not fair. Are you ready to waste your hard-earned money this way? Moreover, you will have to transport all this stuff to class on your own.
Teachers have to deal with all disturbing trends. Des-pa-si-to. Does this song make you roll up your eyes? And what about the whole class with fidget spinners? How about that these things repeat day by day for a couple of months? Think if you can deal with your irritation and anger. If negative, consider another profession.
Teachers don’t have weekends and vacations. You may be wondering why. And here’s the answer: they write lesson plans, check countless essays and projects, etc. Yes, in most cases, you won’t have time for yourself and your hobby. And… even for your family.
Educators are at high risk of public embarrassment. This means you will have to control everything you post on social media, your behavior, and every word you say to anyone. It’s like living under the microscope. And it’s exhausting.
Students always try to escape studying, and some parents blame teachers for that. Have you ever missed an essay submission deadline because of procrastination? Even if the answer is “No,” your students will. And some of their parents will blame you. They can say that you did not adequately explain the lesson material, or you’re too prejudiced to their kids, or… whatever it would be, you’ll be wrong.
Students can be abusive. Even the best teacher faced abuse and bullying in class. Think, will you be able to deal with troubled youth and bad behavior day by day?

As you can see, teaching is a stressful, low-paying, and thankless job. There are many reasons not to become a teacher you can use in your paper and to think about when choosing a career. However, many people still decide to be teachers because it is much more than just a profession. They want this career path as the passion of their lives.

📜 Teacher Topic: Paper Types

You may say that it’s just a teacher topic essay, what are we talking about? There are plenty of other types of essays on teaching that your professor may also ask to write. Check our blog to learn more about their specifics.

Below, we will give you all the essentials on being a teacher paper:

🗺️ Application Essay

You will have to write this type of essay when applying for a job. This paper is a crucial part of your application. You have to prove to your future employer that you meet all the requirements of your future career.

At first sight, it’s similar to a CV or a cover letter. But the job application essay is an entirely different paper. And here are some of the features of these papers:

Life experience and hobbies. In your CV or resume, you state your hobbies, interests, and even the places you have visited. However, in the teacher application, you provide only relevant information about yourself that clearly shows that your experience makes you the best candidate for this position.
Personalization. You may not change your CV when applying to various companies (unless you want to tailor it to a particular employer and position). But your teacher application essay must be customized. Some employers will ask you to tell more about yourself while others require you to solve a specific issue in the application.
Your ambitions and enthusiasm. The CV doesn’t show your objectives or attitude to various teaching theories. Otherwise, your employer can ask you to write an essay that represents your professional goals.

🔔 Personal Statement

The personal statement is quite similar to the job application letter. You will write it when applying to a college, university, or for a job. The difference between personal statement and a job application essay is that the first one leaves more space for your creativity.

As in the teacher application essay, you will have to customize it according to the job requirements and express both your ambitions and personal features.

Some employers require you to submit a personal statement along with the CV and cover letter.

💭 Autobiography

You may be wondering why you may need to write an autobiography of a teacher. This essay will be useful for your future portfolio. For example, you can add it to a job search portfolio or “about me” section on social media.

Needless to say that social networking nowadays is an essential part of a job search or career change. So, make sure that your autobiography of becoming a teacher contains only positive details.

However, you have to remember that an autobiography on Facebook or LinkedIn (or wherever you decide to place it) should make your profile searchable .

Above, we’ve provided the pros and cons of being a teacher. We hope, by now, you have the answer to the “why I want to be a teacher” question.

So, another issue arises: how to write an essay? Below we will show you all the essentials on writing teacher topic essays with examples.

1. ✔️ Preparation

Proper preparation is key to an A+ paper. First, you should determine the topic and arguments you will use in your essay on teacher jobs.

The arguments depend on the paper type you have to write. For example, you should prepare merits and demerits, or choose points to use in the argumentative essay. Maybe, you should research for a literature review. Whatever it takes, don’t skip this stage!

2. ✔️ Outline

The next step is to outline your future paper. An outline is a mandatory part of any essay writing. It’s a plan that will let you structure your ideas and stick to the required word count.

Here’s an example of “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” college essay outline:

In this 300-word “Why I Would Like to Be a Teacher of Political Science” essay, our experts organized the paper structure and put key ideas to explore in the paper. As you can see, after the introduction, they put the topic aspects to cover and left a part for sources analysis.

Make a list of your arguments and ensure that they are logically connected. Your professor can require you to write an outline with headings and subheadings as complete sentences or a series of words (phrases). So make sure you’ve carefully read the paper guidelines and understood them.

3. ✔️ Thesis Statement

After you’ve finished your outline, you can start essay writing. At this stage, you need to develop a good thesis statement.

The purpose of your thesis is to explain your position—the central idea of the essay. Tell your reader what you will write in the paper and explain the significance of the subject.

The thesis statement is usually 1-2 sentences long and concludes the introduction paragraph. You can sketch out your thesis and add some touches after the paper is completed to make sure it meets the essay content.

4. ✔️ Introduction

Next, start with an introduction. Here you will have to briefly show the understanding of the teaching profession and its peculiarities:

A teacher essay introduction opens your paper with a hook. This first sentence aims to grab your reader’s attention. You can start it with a quote or an interesting fact.
Then provide the context necessary for understanding the issue.
End with the thesis statement. Make it as clear and precise as possible.
If you have time and space, outline the evidence that you’ll use in the body paragraphs.
Try to avoid phrases like “In this essay, I…” or “In my essay, I’m going…”

Here’s how your introduction can look like:

5. ✔️ Body Paragraphs

Now, it’s time to recall all the arguments and evidence you put in your outline. You will write them in your essay body paragraphs. Depending on the required word count and the number of evidence, the paper body typically contains at least three body paragraphs.

However, some papers can have two body paragraphs. You should know that each idea and point of view must be stated in a separate part. If you have three or five arguments, you have to write three or five paragraphs in your essay, respectively.

Here’s our sample:

6. ✔️ Conclusion

And the last but not the least part of your essay is the conclusion. Here you have to summarize all the ideas presented in the body section and explain how they meet your thesis statement.

Don’t try to repeat the thesis word by word or provide any new ideas. Here’s an example of a conclusion for an “I Want to Become a Teacher” essay:

If you used any sources, don’t forget to include the reference list in your paper according to the required citation style .

The purpose of the personal statement is to tell the admissions officer or recruiter why you decided to become a teacher. You can be required to submit one along with your college, university, scholarship, or job application.

A teacher’s personal statement is a document where you can express your personality. Want to learn all the dos and don’ts of its writing?

Just keep reading!

📝 Personal Statement: Tips

A typical personal statement is up to 700 words or 4,000 characters long, including intro, body, and conclusion. To keep word count tracking, you can type it in Word or Google Documents. Now, let’s consider critical points of personal statement writing that you can use for college/uni and job application:

Intro. Your introductory paragraph is an excellent opportunity to open the statement with memorable sentences about why you chose to become a teacher. Make it bright and clear.
Structure. As we mentioned above, each of your points should have supporting evidence. For example, if you’re writing about your experience, explain what you have learned and how this will help you in your future career.
Conclusion. The secret of good personal statement endings is to keep it simple and clear. Explain why you would be a perfect asset to this company or college and make a statement on why they would be lucky to have you as an employee or a student.
Personal statement for primary teaching. In case you’re going to apply for a teaching role or major, you should mention skills that will be useful for extracurricular school activities. You need to prove that you will be able to help with school plays or organize various off-class events.
Postgraduate personal statement. Here, you have to show your abilities and academic interests. Persuade the admission officers how you will benefit from studying the program and your impact on science.

The next point to consider is what to write in the body section of your “Why Do You Want to Be a Teacher” personal statement. Here are some questions to answer in your paper:

Why do you want to become a teacher?
Why did you decide to teach at this level?
What are your strengths?
Do you have teaching experience?
What personal skills do you have?
Why do you think you deserve a place in this company/university above others?
What is your background?
What are your career goals?

🙅‍♀️ Personal Statement: Common mistakes

A personal statement may be the only way to make a first impression on your recruiter or admissions officer. There might be no other opportunity. That’s why you must know the most common mistakes to avoid:

Negative tone. Believe us: no one wants to read the pessimistic, weak, or adverse essay. Even if you have to describe an uncomfortable fact, try to make it positive.
Using online templates. If you found a great personal statement template that you think will perfectly fit your paper, stop! Recruiters and college admissions have seen dozens and dozens of them, so there are high chances that your application will be declined. Spend a little more time and write a statement yourself.
Including irrelevant facts or lies. Recruiters spend, on average, six seconds on reading the CV and a personal statement. That’s why you should neither tell a cool story about your grandmother’s birthday nor tell lies. In the first case, it’s annoying. Moreover, it may lead to firing or dismissal from the college.
Using clichés, jargon, overused words, etc. A personal statement requires a formal tone, so conversational tone is merely unacceptable.
Using the same personal statement for different applications. Even if you send your application to ten different companies or colleges, personalize it! Include some facts from the firm’s or university’s history, mission, or vision, and explain how your skills meet them.
Leaving writing the statement to the last minute. It takes some time to prepare, draft, and polish your paper to make it stand out from other applications.

If you still need a “Why Do You Want to Be a Teacher?” personal statement example, check the sample below:

In case you want something more than “why did you decide to become a teacher,” check the topics below. We believe that your teacher will appreciate reading your paper.

A recess for primary school students. Imagine if you were a school principal. Would you sacrifice breaks in favor of additional study time? Explain your point of view.
Homework : yay or nay? Think about how much time students should spend on their homework in elementary school. Should there be any homework at all? Provide your points and evidence and show how they are connected to your teaching philosophy.
Technologies in education : pros and cons. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of using desktops and tablets at school and for homework.
Handwriting in elementary school . Some schools stopped teaching students cursive handwriting. Provide your point of view on whether handwriting is a lost art or an unnecessary relic.
School uniform and dress code. Should students wear a uniform? And what about the teachers?
Standardized tests in school. Are these tests discriminatory? Should they be tied to funding? Elaborate on whether they cause too much anxiety for students.
Second language learning : advantages and disadvantages. How many languages should an average school graduate know? Do pupils need to learn any second language at school?
Armed security in educational institutions. More and more school mass shootings are reported every year. Can armed guards protect students? Do your research on gun control and demonstrate your opinion.
Early start times at school . Explore how such start times impact on students’ perception of the lesson material.
Inclusive education for children with disabilities . Research the techniques that will fit your students with special needs. Show the connection between them and your teaching approach.
Personal philosophy of education and views on teacher’s career.
Discuss how teachers can influence students’ personal life .
Analyze the social and emotional competencies teachers should possess.
Describe the difficulties a teacher may face when working with children.
Personal development plan of a teacher .
Who is responsible for children’s low academic achievement.
Explain why you want to be physical education teacher .
Discuss pros and cons of distance education and traditional degree .
Describe an ideal public school .
Remembering who you were: my teacher .
What educational system would you prefer if you were a teacher?
Analyze the difficulties a teacher may face trying to implement multicultural educational practices .
Compare the efficiency of private and public schools .
Road to becoming a good teacher .
Why constant professional development is crucial for teachers.
Describe an educational style a teacher can use when teaching English as a second language .
Is music useful or harmful for student academic performance?
Methods teachers can use to improve the school for young learners.
Examine the effect a teacher has on student’s personality .
Discuss the specifics of teaching music in middle schools.
Analyze the crucial meaning of effective student-teacher interaction in inclusive education.
Explain the teacher’s role in integration of children with special needs .
Reading problems and ways of helping students with reading disabilities .
Describe the strategies a teacher can use to improve student learning.
What can a teacher do to help students in developing social and emotional skills ?
Examine the value of education in student life.
Why e-learning is an important part of contemporary education.
Teacher’s influence on student’s career choice .
Discuss the role teacher plays in students’ moral development .
What can a teacher do to avoid workplace burnout .
Compare and analyze the role of teachers and parents in students’ math performance .
Career goal of a maths teacher.
Should the government allow armed teachers on campus for students’ safety?
Examine the most important classroom management areas for a new teacher .
Why are laptops and iPads so important for students?
Analyze how book clubs for teachers can stimulate professional development.
Is it right to expel bullies from school ?
Motivation to choose a teacher’s profession .
Explain why teachers’ attitude is important for educational system success.
Why is low teacher retention a real problem and what can be done about that?

Want more tips and advice on resume writing? Check this article on how to make a resume written by our experts!

Good luck with your essay about being a teacher! Share the article with those who may need it.

Learn more on this topic:

Scholarship Essay Examples about Yourself
How to Write a Scholarship Essay about Why You Deserve It
Financial Assistance Essay: Useful Tips to Make It Rock
How to Write an Essay Describing Your Financial Need
Why i Want to be a Pharmacist Essay: Step-by-step Guide
College Application Essay Writing Mistakes to Avoid
How to Write a 250 Words College Personal Statement

Becoming a good professional has never been easy. Getting employed as a teacher is not the most difficult part of the process. Acquiring professionalism (e.g., building “soft skills,” psychological competence, broad knowledge base) takes more time and effort.

Formalities of the employment process might not coincide in Canada, US, UK, and any other location. The overall algorithm is as follows:

Choose an educational level and/or a subject to focus on. Study the requirements for the desired role and opportunities to meet them.

Start developing the competencies you are lacking.

Try to recollect how you first thought you would wanna become a teacher

Compose a list of the benefits of this rewarding occupation.

Organize the selected ideas to create a body of the essay. Write an appropriate introduction and conclusion.

Recollect what you dreamed about in your childhood.

Compare it with what you want to be in the future as of today.

Think about the reasons for your choice.

Present the comparison and why your choice looks like this in the essay body.

Write an appropriate introduction and conclusion.

10 Reasons Why I Want to Be a Teacher
19 Top Ideas for a “Why I want to be a Teacher” Essay
Reasons for Becoming a Teacher
My Dream to Be a Teacher | Essays
Interview Answer: “Why Did You Decide to Become a Teacher?”
Why Become a Teacher? Educators Share What They Love About Their Work
Why I Want to Become a Teacher
What Is an Autobiography?
How to Write an Autobiography: 8 Steps for Writing Your Autobiography
How to Write a Resume
How to Write a Perfect Teaching Resume (Examples Included)
Working Toward “Wow”: A Vision for a New Teaching Profession
Being a Teacher Essay
Essay on Teacher for Students and Children
5 Reasons to Love Teaching
Why Do YOU Want to be a Teacher?
Review Essay: Reflections on Scholarship and Teaching in the Humanities
How To Write A Great Personal Statement For A Teaching Job
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Nice And informative article

Thanks all of this was so helpful, could you send me more on being a teacher to my email [email protected]

Unfortunately, we don’t have more articles on teaching for the time being, but you can check the blog later in case we post something useful for you.

Nice and informative

This article is really very informative and full of great ideas.

I am happy to see new creative writing and wonderful thoughts.

These are super cool guidelines to help me with my essay. Fresh ideas started popping right up. Thnx a whole bunch!

You have really done a good job. More grace to you.

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Educator FI

Financial Independence For Educators

How to Answer “Why Do You Want to be a Teacher?”

posted on November 30, 2020

For this month’s career content, I’m focusing on that inevitable question any future-educator will receive, “Why do you want to be a teacher?”

I’m an educator and love it. It’s a great career and a solid financial path despite what most people believe. But that’s not a good reason to become a teacher, and not a great answer in an interview. Let me prepare you to nail this common teacher interview question.

“Why do you want to be a teacher?”

You can be absolutely certain that this question will show up sometime in your journey to become a teacher. It may be part of your application to college, a formal part of the teacher interview, or a seemingly casual conversational question from another educator.

As a school principal , I don’t ask this when hiring a teacher. I do, however, ask it of any student teacher candidates we host. I know our district uses a version of it in applications for our Grow Your Own Program .

Whenever it’s asked, your answer will contribute to the impression other educators have of you.

I’m going to help you form your answer. I’m not going to give you a “hack” because you can’t and shouldn’t fake your way into the profession. It’ll backfire on you.

But, if you really want it, we’ll make sure you’re able to describe why in an impactful way. Even better, clarifying this for yourself will help keep you motivated.

The path that led you to this point, a fulfilling moment with a student or teacher, impact – the key ingredient, be positive.

Focus On Kids

Be Authentic

Don’t ramble, implications of the fallback, example 1 – why do you want to be a teacher, example 2 – why do you want to be a teacher , example 3 – why do you want to be a teacher, why do you want to become a teacher essay, summary – how to answer why do you want to be a teacher, why do i want to be a teacher.

To help you formulate your answer, I suggest you sit down and think through these three things. They’ll enable you to create both a tight impactful answer and form the foundation for a longer response.

Since you’re reading this post, I’ll assume you’ve already decided to be a teacher. You may even be well down the road and preparing for interviews. Fantastic! We need good teachers in the profession.

Sit down and write out how you ended up at this point. Trace your education and career path. Just sketch it all out. List as many different choices and paths as you remember.

Here’s an example of what that may look like:

Planned to be an astronaut – read science books all through elementary school
Parents split – poverty
Became obsessed with making money
Paper route in middle school
Worked at the local convenience store
Studied economics in high school
Worked weekends at a home improvement store
Went to college for economics – looking to make lots of money
Ended up in an office job. Hated it.
* Volunteered in teacher friend’s classroom *
* Felt drive to do something that mattered *
Enrolled in an MAT program

Look for those pivot points, the moments that set you on the path to teaching. Highlight those. (I marked two above with *bold*.)

Your story will be different. Some people knew when they were very young that they wanted to be a teacher. They may have fewer points. That’s great, too!

You can’t make it clear to other people why/when you decided to be a teacher unless YOU are clear. Moments matter, and we’ll talk about that more in the next step.

Moments matter. Both for individual motivation and for stories. Indeed, Chip and Dan Heath wrote a whole book on it: The Power of Moments.

I’ve witnessed dozens of times how a candidate sharing an impactful moment hits the interview team. Many teachers are driven by those personal moments and interactions, so they resonate deeply with educator panels.

Don’t wait until you’re asked to try and think of a moment. Take time now and write out a few moments in education that had an impact on you.

It can be something you experienced as a student with a teacher, or a moment you’ve had in your education path with a student. Both are equally impactful.

Make sure it’s authentic and personal. Scripted obviously fake moments stick out and work against you. But real moments are gold.

Oh, and while I always advise keeping things as positive as possible, it’s okay if a moment is a negative experience that led you to want to do it better.

A few examples:

In 3rd grade, my parents split. As the oldest kid in my family, I suddenly had a lot of responsibility. I walked around like a zombie, but somehow my third grade teacher Ms. Holland noticed and asked me what was going on. She was the first person I told. She said it was probably hard at home, but it was okay to be a kid at school.

In 10th grade, my US History teacher challenged me to be the first person in our school to ever get a 5 on the AP US History exam. I’d been struggling with self-doubt and the matter-of-fact way he assumed I could do it changed everything.

While I was volunteering in my friend’s classroom, she asked me to read with a first-grade student who was struggling. I’d go in a few times each week and we’d read together. For several weeks, the student (I’ll call her Sara) was quiet and sad. Then one day, I came in and she sprinted to me with a book in her hand. “Ms. Jones taught me to read! I’m going to read this book to you now!”

You will not use all of your examples, but your answer to this question (and others) will benefit from having thought through and clarified these examples.

Moments matter. Make sure you have a few clear in your head and ready to go.

Moments matter, but your personal inspiration isn’t the primary reason you’ll be selected to be a teacher. Liking kids isn’t enough (though it matters.) You need to be driven to have an impact on students.

As a principal, more than anything else I listen for this in a response. Even if you nail the first two, if your “why” isn’t firmly embedded in making a difference for students you have missed the mark.

While the first two are personal and require reflection, this one may require deeper thought. Answer these questions for yourself:

What will change because you become a teacher?

Why did you choose the subject / speciality level that you did?

How will you know you’ve made a difference after a year, ten years, or a career?

A moment will hook people. A strong statement of impact will seal the deal.

Putting It All Together Into Why You Want To Become a Teacher

Okay, now that you’ve written out your thoughts you have all you need to prepare your best answer. Before I get to the examples, here are important things to keep in mind when framing your answer:

This is true in all interviews, but remember to frame your answer in positive language. You want the listener/reader to know you believe that things can and should be better.

Focus On Kids

Why it matters to you is important, but not everything. Teaching is a service profession and your answer should be grounded in students and why you will be good for them as a teacher. An incredibly inspiring story that doesn’t mention students will crash and burn.

Don’t make things up and don’t fake emotions. I’ve seen some really awkward attempts at this. It always shows.

Be honest, and stay within your personality. If you’re cheesy – feel free to be cheesy. But if you’re a quiet person, respond authentically and earnestly.

You’re reading this post to make sure you’re prepared. Part of being prepared is forming a tight answer that has impact. Include all the important information, but do it in a way that flows quickly and focuses the listener/reader on your answer, not a thousand extraneous pieces of information.

Never Include These Things In Your Answer

Yes, I believe that teaching is a solid choice for a career. It’s the point of this site. However, that’s not a reason to be a teacher. There are better professions for your finances.

Most importantly, the vast majority of educators view education as a calling. They don’t want to hear you say it’s about the paycheck.

If you entered education as part of a career change (like I did) then frame it as being called to service. Don’t imply that you’re looking to become a teacher because you couldn’t find anything else to do or are looking for an easier route.

Yes, teachers do get summers off. You’ll be surprised to find that your summers, especially the early ones, are busier than you expect. ( Teachers don’t get paid in the summer! )

Summers off aren’t a good reason to choose a profession. Don’t include this in your answer. Just don’t.

“Why Do I Want To Become a Teacher?” Examples

Okay, with those things in mind, let’s look at some example answers and why they work.

“I think I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I remember as early as 7 years old running a classroom for my younger brother and sister. My decision was affirmed again and again by great teachers I had in middle school and high school. I used to watch and take notes on what worked and didn’t work. During high school, I took career classes and worked on the weekends at a child care center. I’ve never wavered in my desire to teach, and know that I can make the biggest difference at elementary school. I know there are huge disparities in outcomes by race and believe we can change that by eliminating the gap as early as possible.”

This works because it combines the old standby of “I was born to be a teacher” with specific examples of focusing on the craft and skill of teaching in addition to the passion. It closes with a specific desire for impact related to choosing elementary teaching as a focus.

“My parents split when I was young, and my mom worked hard to take care of us. But, we were poor and I hated it. I spent my years in high school and college obsessing over how to become rich. Then I started down the finance career path. It felt hollow and empty. I was making money, but it didn’t really matter. To give something back and do something that mattered, I started volunteering in a friend’s classroom. I still remember the first time one of her first-graders flipped from non-reader to reader. It was magic, and I wanted to learn to be a magician. Every kid we can give the gift of reading to is worth any million dollars I could earn.”

This answer starts with a personal detail that draws the listener in. Then it has a career pivot with a specific student story. Finally, it emphasizes the power of teaching and the drive to make a difference.

“I had some great teachers as a kid. But, as a black boy, I saw how differently some teachers treated us. I’ll never forget in fifth grade when they named the TAG (talent and gifted) students in the grade. Not a single black or brown student was on the list. I knew some of us were just as smart. I watched friends fall away and become disillusioned or drop out. Not me, I became determined to be the kind of teacher that lifts up all students. I know only ⅔ of students of color graduate on time in this district, and I’m ready to be part of changing that.”

This is a real answer I heard a candidate give. As a teacher, it made me immediately want to work with him as a colleague. It starts with a negative story that moves quickly into a drive to make impact. Finally, it closes with a specific piece of data that links the story to the real world and a need for change.

I’ve been asked to complete an essay version of this question three times in my life. First, when applying for graduate school to become a teacher. Second, in an education philosophy course. Finally, in one of my early teacher job applications I had to submit this as an essay.

Each time, my essay got a little better. But, I have to be honest, I don’t think any of those versions would meet my expectations now. I want to make sure yours does.

Use the three building blocks we discussed above. I’d advise starting with the moments to establish your path and desire for becoming a teacher. Moments hook.

Then, use the remaining space in the essay to focus on impact. Research data points and strategies and describe the steps you plan to take. This takes the essay from what some might perceive as “fluff” to inspiration with real world action.

If you look at the previous examples of short-form answers, you can probably see how these could be expanded into a longer essay or statement.

An example outline for such an essay (using example 2) might look like this:

Working hard in school – inspired to action by teachers
Volunteering – “aha moment” with a student
Prison populations predicted by third-grade reading rates
Only x% of students in our community are reading at grade level by third grade
Impact of reading strategies at early grades
Excitement to implement these strategies
Teaching young students to read changes lives and improves the community

Using the simple framework, but expanding the stories and (most importantly) adding research on impact and strategies will produce a strong essay that hooks the reader and presents a clear desire to make a difference. Trust me, you will stand out.

How to answer "Why Do you want to be a teacher?"

Whether it’s an interview question, an application statement, or an essay, you will undoubtedly encounter this question in your journey to become a teacher. Be prepared and increase your chances with the following steps:

Your career path (note the pivot points)
Personal moments / stories with teachers or students
How you will have impact
Be positive
Be authentic
Focus on kids
Keep the statement tight (Don’t ramble)

If you follow these simple steps, you’ll clarify for yourself and others why you want to become a teacher. Your answer will keep you motivated during the challenging times AND stand out in any selection process.

Interview Question: "Why Did You Decide to Become a Teacher?"

The Balance

Job Interviews
Skills & Keywords
Salary & Benefits
Letters & Emails
Job Listings
Cover Letters
Career Advice
Work-From-Home Jobs
Internships

What the Interviewer Wants to Know

How to Answer

Examples of the Best Answers

Tips for giving the best response, what not to say, possible follow-up questions.

When you’re interviewing for a teaching job , you should expect to be asked about what inspired you to become a teacher.

This question is popular because it gives the interviewer insight into your feelings about your career. Your answer will also necessarily reveal a bit about your career path—how you got to where you are.

The best answers to this question are positive, displaying a passion for teaching and a love of being in the classroom.

You should also try to use your answer as an opportunity to show that you have the qualifications outlined in the job listing.

Your answer should show the interviewer that you’re excited about teaching and how you connect with this job in particular. To demonstrate the latter, come prepared with an answer that reflects your teaching philosophy and career path, as well as your skills and qualifications.

Most likely, every person interviewed for a teaching position will have a different answer to this question. That's to be expected as your career path is a personal one. What's important is to keep the focus on how your career decisions will benefit the employer, and how you will excel in the role if you were to be hired.

How to Answer "Why Did You Decide to Become a Teacher?"

As with any interview question, it'll be easier to respond if you prepare beforehand. That way, you won't be put on the spot when this question comes up. Take some time to consider why you gravitated toward teaching.

Consider providing a personal anecdote. Share stories of how you made a difference to a child in a classroom or how you successfully taught a challenging lesson as a result of what you learned from that teacher.

Example Answer #1

The best teacher I ever had was my history teacher in high school. I preferred English and science to history, but she was able to see past the dates and facts and make the subject come to life beyond the basic curriculum. For instance, we looked through old newspaper articles about historical events and then wrote our own blogs as if we were journalists living during that time. I was inspired by her unconventional techniques, and I strive to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom.

Why It Works: This answer shows that the candidate recognizes how an inspiring teacher changed their life and formed their values. It also reveals that the interviewee understands how unconventional methods can help them connect with students—presumably something that would be valued at this school.

Example Answer #2

The assistant principal of my high school was a real inspiration to me, and she is one of the major reasons I pursued a teaching career. Her ability to guide students, her fairness, and her sense of justice made me aspire to bring these things to my own classroom.

Why It Works: In this reply, the candidate shares not only an anecdote about an inspiring teacher, but also the values that drive the candidate’s work today.

Example Answer #3

While I was student teaching, I had the opportunity to take a student aside to help him with a particularly difficult math concept that he was having trouble understanding. When I was able to show him a different way to approach the problem, and he “got it,” I knew that I had chosen the right field!

Why It Works: Probably every teacher has had that “ah-ha” moment with a student. Assuming that the interviewer is also a teacher, this answer allows the candidate to establish a connection.

Here are some strategies for framing your response:

Be Honest. What's driving you to become a teacher? One of the reasons interviewers ask this question is to get a sense of your motivators.

Be genuine and thoughtful in discussing the considerations that led you to this profession.

Share Examples or Tell Stories. Were you inspired by a teacher of your own? Did you read a story in the news that made you realize how big an impact a good teacher could have? Incorporating anecdotes or memories in your answer may make it more powerful.

Reasons to Become a Teacher. Many teachers discover that their love of children draws them to teaching, or that their own love of learning makes them passionate about teaching. Some teachers enter the profession because they're eager to make a difference—people tend to remember their teachers for an entire lifetime, long after school is over. Others are inspired by a teacher earlier in their education who had a positive impact on them. A teacher may be seen as a leader, a mentor, or even a surrogate parental figure.

Describing a Favorite Teacher. It might naturally lead to a related interview question about the best teacher you ever had, or who your favorite teacher was and why. This question addresses more than just your chosen career; it also shines a light on how you function as an employer since a teacher is essentially the first boss or manager of your work, albeit in an academic environment.

Did you respect your teacher because she was patient and tolerant or perhaps because she took the time to offer you extra help? The interviewer will be interested in your explanation as to which traits you admired in your teacher because it lends insight into what kind of management style you prefer and what approach enables you to thrive.

No one ever forgets a meaningful teacher who had an impact on their life. It is a rather personal question, and so your answer should be personal too.

It is also a chance to indirectly slip in some positive qualities and strengths of your own that you possess as a result of this teacher's guidance.

“I’m Really Excited to Get the Summer Off!” Do not frame your answer to this question around job benefits (such as short days or summer vacation). That may be a motivating factor, but it will not make you appear dedicated, and won't reflect well on you as a candidate.

Anything Dishonest. This should go without saying, but your inspirational story should be true. If you try to fake it—either by stretching the truth about an interaction with one of your own teachers, or by making up your story—you won’t achieve that connection with the interviewer. You might also need to ask yourself why you don’t have a genuine story to share.

What is your teaching philosophy? – Best Answers
What is your classroom management style? – Best Answers
How do you use technology in the classroom? – Best Answers
What strategies do you use to motivate your students? – Best Answers
How do you handle stress? – Best Answers

Key Takeaways

TELL STORIES: Share anecdotes about teachers who’ve inspired you.

MATCH YOUR QUALIFICATIONS TO THE JOB: Use your answer to highlight your teaching philosophy, classroom management skills, etc.

BE HONEST: Be genuine and thoughtful in your response.

Important Job Skills for Teachers
Interview Question: "What Is Your Teaching Philosophy?"
Interview Questions About Your Classroom Management Style
Common Teacher Interview Questions and Best Answers
Interview Questions to Ask a Candidate for a Potential Manager Job
Best Interview Questions for Employers to Ask Job Applicants
Speech Pathologist Interview Questions and Answers
Informational Interview Thank-You Letter Example
Sales Interview Questions With Examples of the Best Answers
Best Interview Answers: "Why Did You Choose Your College?"
Public Relations Interview Questions and Answers
Part-Time Job Interview Questions About Your Contributions
How to Get a Job as a Teacher
Dealing With Teacher Interview Questions About Technology
Interview Questions About What Motivates You to Sell
Cover Letter Samples for Teachers

Essay About Being a Teacher: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

If you are writing an essay about being a teacher, here are some examples to give you inspiration.

Without a doubt, teaching is one of the most important professions one can have. Teachers give children the lessons they must learn to face the future and contribute positively to society. They can be considered the gateway to success stories such as Oprah Winfrey , Adele , and John Legend , all of whom have cited their teachers as major inspirations to their careers.

Many educators would say that “teaching is its own reward.” However, it may be difficult to see how this is the case, especially considering the fact that being an educator entails massive amounts of stress and pressure. Teaching has actually been reported to be one of the most underpaid jobs , yet many teachers still love what they do. Why is this?

If you want to write an essay about being a teacher, whether you are one or not, you can get started by reading the 5 examples featured here.

1. Reflections on being a teacher … by Darren Koh

2. teaching in the pandemic: ‘this is not sustainable’ by natasha singer, 3. why i got rid of my teacher’s desk by matthew r. morris, 4. stress is pushing many teachers out of the profession by daphne gomez, 5. doubt and dreams by katheryn england, top writing prompts on essay about being a teacher, 1. what makes teaching so fulfilling, 2. what can you learn from being a teacher, 3. why do people become teachers, 4. should you become a teacher, 5. how have teachers helped you become who you are today.

“Although strictly speaking, based on the appointments I hold, I really do not have time to do much of it. I say teach, not lecturing. The lecturer steps up to the lectern and declaims her knowledge. She points out the difficulties in the area, she talks about solutions to problems, and she makes suggestions for reform. The focus is on the subject – the students follow. The teacher, however, needs to meet the students where they are in order to bring them to where they have to be. The focus is on the student’s ability.”

Koh writes about how he teaches, the difficulties of teaching, and what it means to be a teacher. He helps his students hone their skills and use them critically. He also discusses the difficulty of connecting with each student and focusing their attention on application rather than mere knowledge. Koh wants students to achieve their full potential; teaching to him is engaging, inspirational, and transparent. He wants readers to know that being a teacher is rewarding yet difficult, and is something he holds close to his heart.

“‘I work until midnight each night trying to lock and load all my links, lessons, etc. I never get ahead,” one anonymous educator wrote. ‘Emails, endless email. Parents blaming me because their kids chose to stay in bed, on phones, on video games instead of doing work.’”

Singer writes about the difficult life of teachers trying to balance in-person and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the standard class routine, being a teacher during the pandemic has entailed the burden of handling students who opt for remote learning. They are faced with additional struggles, including connection issues, complaining parents, and being overworked in general- it’s as if they teach twice the number of classes as normal. This is exhausting and may prove detrimental to the American education system, according to the sources Singer cites.

“What it means to me is that I am checking (or acknowledging) my privilege as a teacher in the space of the classroom and in order to facilitate a more equitable classroom community for my students, erasing one of the pillars of that inequity is a step in the right direction. I am comfortable in my role as the head member in my classroom, and I don’t need a teacher’s desk anymore to signify that.”

Morris, an educator, writes about what teaching means to him, highlighted by his decision to remove his teacher’s desk from his classroom. Being a teacher for him is about leading the discussion or being the “lead learner,” as he puts it, rather than being an instructor. His removal of the teacher’s desk was decided upon based on his desire to help his students feel more equal and at home in class. He believes that being a teacher means being able to foster authentic connections both for and with his students.

“Teachers want to help all students achieve, and the feeling of leaving any student behind is devastating. The pressure that they put on themselves to ensure that they serve all students can also contribute to the stress.”

Gomez writes about the stress that comes with being a teacher, largely due to time constraints, lack of resources, and the number of students they must instruct. As much as they want to help their students, their environment does not allow them to touch the lives of all students equally. They are extremely pressured to uphold certain standards of work, and while they try as hard as they can, they do not always succeed. As a result, many teachers have left the profession altogether. Gomez ends her piece with an invitation for teachers to read about other job opportunities.

“Then I re-evaluate what I want for myself, and what it is that keeps me working towards my dreams. Through the goals I’ve set for myself, I can maintain focus, move past my self-doubt and succeed. By focusing on my goals, I can make a difference in the world directly around me.”

Taken from a collection of short essays, England’s essay is about why she so desperately wishes to become a teacher. She was previously able to work as a teaching assistant to her former elementary school teacher, and enjoyed imparting new knowledge unto children. Even in moments of self-doubt, she reminds herself to be confident in her dreams and hopes to be able to make a difference in the world with her future profession.

Essay about being a teacher: What makes teaching so fulfilling?

When it comes to teachers, we often hear about either “the joy of teaching” or the immense stress that comes with it. You can explore the gratitude and satisfaction that teachers feel toward their jobs, even with all the struggles they face. Read or watch the news and interviews with teachers themselves.

Research on the skills and qualifications people need to be teachers, as well as any qualities they may need to do their job well. What skills can you get from teaching? What traits can you develop? What lessons can you learn?

Despite the seemingly endless barrage of stories about the difficulties that teachers face, many people still want to teach. You can explore the reasoning behind their decisions, and perhaps get some personal insight on being a teacher as well.

Based on what you know, would you recommend teaching as a job? If you aren’t too knowledgeable on this topic, you can use the essay examples provided as guides- they present both the positive and negative aspects of being a teacher. Be sure to support your argument with ample evidence- interviews, anecdotes, statistics, and the like.

Teachers, whether in a school setting or not, have almost certainly helped make you into the person you are now. You can discuss the impact that your teachers have had on your life, for better or for worse, and the importance of their roles as teachers in forming students for the future.

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Students are often asked to write an essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Passion for knowledge.

I chose to become a teacher because I love learning. I enjoy gaining new information and sharing it with others. Being a teacher lets me keep learning and pass my knowledge to my students.

Inspiring Young Minds

I believe that children are our future. As a teacher, I can inspire them to do their best. I can help them find their passions and guide them towards their goals.

Creating a Positive Impact

Teachers can change lives. They can help students grow and become better people. I wanted to have that kind of positive impact on the world.

Job Satisfaction

Teaching is a job that brings me joy. Seeing my students learn and succeed is very rewarding. It makes me feel happy and satisfied with my work.

The Joy of Teaching

Lastly, I simply love teaching. I enjoy the process of planning lessons, interacting with students, and seeing them understand new concepts. It is a job that I find fulfilling and meaningful.

250 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Love for learning.

I chose to become a teacher because I love learning. Ever since I was a child, I have been curious. I always wanted to know more about the world around me. I thought, what better way to keep learning than to become a teacher? As a teacher, I learn new things every day, and it keeps my mind active and excited.

Sharing Knowledge

Another reason is my passion for sharing knowledge. I believe that knowledge is a gift that grows when shared. As a teacher, I can share what I know with my students and see them grow in understanding. It’s a great feeling when a student understands a concept I’ve taught.

Making a Difference

I also chose this profession because I wanted to make a difference in the world. Teachers play a big role in shaping the future. We guide young minds and help them become responsible adults. I wanted to be part of that journey.

Creating a Positive Environment

Lastly, I wanted to create a positive learning environment. I remember how my teachers made learning fun and exciting. I wanted to do the same for my students. I believe that a positive environment helps students learn better.

In conclusion, my love for learning, sharing knowledge, making a difference, and creating a positive environment led me to become a teacher. It’s a choice I’m glad I made. I get to make a difference every day, and that’s a wonderful feeling.

500 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Introduction.

The decision to become a teacher is not one that is made lightly. It’s a choice that comes from the heart, driven by a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. For me, choosing to be a teacher was a calling, a passion that grew from my love for learning and my wish to share that love with others.

As a student, I was always fascinated by how much there was to learn about the world. Every new fact, every new idea was like a tiny treasure, waiting to be discovered. I loved the feeling of understanding something new, of seeing the world in a different way. I wanted to share this joy with others, to help them discover the wonder of learning. This is what led me to choose teaching as a profession.

Desire to Make a Difference

Teachers have a unique chance to shape the future. They guide students, helping them grow into responsible, thoughtful adults. I wanted to be part of this process. I wanted to help students understand their potential, to believe in themselves, and to strive for their dreams. The thought of being able to make such a difference in a young person’s life was a major factor in my decision to become a teacher.

Passion for Sharing Knowledge

I have always been passionate about sharing knowledge. The joy of seeing a student’s eyes light up when they grasp a new concept is priceless. I wanted to be the one to spark that light, to help students discover their interests and talents. Teaching offered me the perfect platform to do this.

Respect for the Profession

I have always held teachers in high regard. They are the ones who inspire us, motivate us, and guide us towards our goals. They play a pivotal role in shaping our lives. I wanted to be part of this noble profession, to contribute to society in a meaningful way. This respect for the profession was another strong reason why I chose to become a teacher.

Choosing to become a teacher was a decision born out of love for learning, a desire to make a difference, a passion for sharing knowledge, and respect for the profession. It was not just about choosing a job, but about choosing a way of life. It was about choosing to spend my days doing something that I love, something that I believe in, and something that I know can make a real difference in the world.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Why Did You Choose Stem Strand
Essay on Why Did You Choose Engineering
Essay on Why Did You Choose Architecture

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

7 reasons why becoming a teacher might be right for you

Teacher sitting in circle with preschool students

Teachers have a profound impact on students, molding their futures and imparting life lessons. This guide helps answer the following questions you may have about why you should become a teacher, including:

Why is teaching a good career?
Why should someone want to be a teacher?
How do I answer why I want to be a teacher?
Why teaching is a good career?
Why is it important that we are teachers?

This guide has seven great reasons to help you find the answer you need and also explores the perks that make teaching a rewarding profession beyond the classroom.

Is becoming a teacher right for you?

If you’re thinking of becoming a teacher, you’re likely weighing the pros and cons of the job. No job is perfect, life and careers have unavoidable stressors and tasks that you may like less than others. But if you’re considering a career in education, it’s important to ask yourself why you want to become a teacher. Luckily for you, we’ve got seven great reasons to help you get started.

1. You can make a difference.

Becoming a teacher means you’ll be molding future generations through the curriculum you set and bits of personal wisdom you impart. You’ll have the ability and power to teach life lessons as well as core subjects. There’s a good chance that you may be spending more waking hours with these children than their own parents. This means you’ll be the one to help teach them social skills, time management, conflict resolution, how to cope with stressors and how to focus on a task.

If we were lucky, we had a teacher who is indelible in our minds. They showed how much they cared about us and their subject, they inspired us to be better, push harder, go further. Now is your turn to be that teacher for someone else.

2. You’ll get variety in your days.

If you teach high school, you may teach the same lesson content several times in one day, but with new faces and personalities each period, it’s unlikely that the actual lesson will unfold the same way twice. There’s always the chance that students will ask different questions, have different struggles and different reactions to the subject matter. Your days will likely be interesting and varied, making for days that don’t feel as monotonous or sluggish.

3. You can share your love of learning.

4. you’ll have great job security..

Teaching is also a skill that can transfer nearly anywhere. If you train and become a certified teacher, you’ll be able to work almost anywhere in the world. Whether you’re teaching English or a special subject, you could theoretically teach and explore the globe at the same time. International schools and education programs are expanding globally and look for instructors who have trained and are certified.

5. Fun is encouraged

Teaching is also a highly social job. Becoming a teacher means you’ll be joining a team of colleagues who you can lean on in hard times and laugh with during the good. You’ll be interacting with your fellow faculty members as well as students and their parents. Becoming a teacher means becoming a key member of the community as you get to know families.

6. You’ll have a pretty great schedule.

The holidays that teachers get are undoubtedly a pretty great perk of the job. If you become a teacher you may get nearly eight weeks off each summer, paid time off in winter and spring. Most teachers also get paid holidays in addition to the breaks and professional development days without students so that they can have a quiet work day.

7. There are intangible rewards.

But nothing can beat the moment when a student who has been struggling with a concept “gets” it. The sight of their joy when it “clicks” for them and they celebrate their accomplishment is likely one of the greatest rewards of teaching.

This is more than a job.

Whether you’re already an administrator looking for ways to advocate for yourself and your colleagues, or an aspiring school principal looking ahead for ways to fully prepare for the position, consider how an online master's in educational administration from a Top 10 Best Education School (among public universities) 4 can help you achieve your goals to the best of your ability.

Retrieved on September 23, 2019, from suttontrust.com/research-paper/great-teaching/
Retrieved on September 23, 2019, from forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2019/09/05/we-need-to-stop-talking-about-the-teacher-shortage/

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Career Blog

November 9, 2023.

Teaching is a profoundly rewarding profession, one that carries the power to shape the future, both on an individual level and for society as a whole. Teachers are the torchbearers of transformation, witnessing the positive changes first-hand that education can bring to the lives of students. In this article, we will delve into the importance of teaching and explore the myriad of benefits associated with a career in teaching. As with any profession there are challenges, but the positives in this career path far outweigh the negative.

The Impact and Importance of Teaching

At its core, teaching plays a pivotal role in shaping the future by providing students with the knowledge, skills, and guidance they need to thrive. The process on how to become a teacher has many gratifications, educators possess a unique opportunity to inspire and empower the next generation, instilling in them a love for learning and a desire to make a difference in the world around them. By nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and a thirst for knowledge, teachers arm their students with the tools required to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

Teachers do more than mold young minds; they also shape the hearts of their students. They serve as role models, imparting values like empathy, respect, and integrity. Through their unwavering dedication and passion, teachers create a positive and inclusive classroom environment where students feel valued and supported, fostering personal growth, and enabling students to reach their full potential.

Benefits of a teaching career

Personal fulfillment and satisfaction in teaching.

One of the most gratifying aspects of a teaching career is the personal fulfillment and satisfaction it brings. As a teacher, you bear witness to the growth and development of your students, experiencing those priceless “aha” moments when they grasp a new concept or overcome an obstacle. Knowing that you played a role in their success is incredibly fulfilling. The joy of seeing your students flourish and realizing the positive difference you’ve made in their lives is unmatched.

Furthermore, teaching imparts a sense of purpose and meaning. Each day presents an opportunity to contribute to something greater than yourself – the education and well-being of future generations. This sense of purpose infuses your work with deeper meaning, making each day in the classroom meaningful and fulfilling.

Job security and stability in the teaching profession

In an ever-changing job market, the teaching profession offers a sanctuary of stability and job security. According to the National Education Association , teaching is one of the most secure professions someone can choose, and it has a job security rating of 4.4 out of 5.5 to prove it. The demand for qualified teachers will always be in-demand, guaranteeing a consistent stream of job opportunities across the country. Whether you choose to teach in a public school, a private institution, or an international setting, the need for educators will always exist, because children will always exist.

Moreover, teaching provides a stable income, benefits, and time off. While salaries may vary based on factors such as location and experience, teachers generally enjoy competitive pay, health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits. This stability allows teachers to focus on their passion for teaching without the constant worry of job insecurity.

Making a positive difference in students’ lives

One of the most profound benefits of a teaching career is the opportunity to make a positive difference in students’ lives. Teachers possess the power to inspire and motivate, helping students discover their strengths and conquer their challenges. Teachers do not just teach school curriculum, they often help students overcome difficult situations, serve as mentors and role models, and even help to build up each student’s self-esteem. By nurturing their talents and providing guidance, teachers can set the trajectory of a student’s life.

Furthermore, teachers often have the privilege of working with a diverse group of students from various backgrounds and cultures. Through these interactions, teachers promote understanding, empathy, and inclusivity. They have the ability to create a safe and supportive space where students can express themselves, learn from one another, and develop a sense of empathy and respect for others. These are all real-world skills that help an individual excel and become a positive light in society.

Teaching as a career path

Embarking on a career in teaching offers a multitude of opportunities for growth and professional development. Whether you choose to specialize in a particular subject, pursue a leadership role, or explore different teaching methodologies, there are endless avenues for continuous learning and improvement. Being a life-long learner is not just for students, it’s for educators as well.

The teaching profession also allows for a flexible work-life balance. With regular breaks during school holidays and the possibility of part-time or remote teaching positions, teachers can prioritize their personal lives and pursue other interests or hobbies. Let’s not forget to mention summer vacation. This time off gives teachers the opportunity to relax and refresh before starting a new academic year.

Choosing teaching as a Fulfilling and Impactful Career

A career in teaching offers numerous benefits and rewards. From personal fulfillment and satisfaction to job security and the opportunity to make a positive impact on students’ lives, teaching is a profession that allows individuals to turn their passion into purpose. If you have a love for learning, a desire to inspire, and a heart for making a difference, then teaching may be the perfect career path for you. Take the leap and embark on a journey that will not only transform the lives of others, but also bring immense fulfillment to your own. Teaching isn’t just a job; it’s a calling, a vocation that holds the power to shape a brighter future for all.

To learn more about the opportunities and programs offered by LAPU , visit our website and discover how you can take the first steps towards a fulfilling and impactful teaching career.

April 17, 2024

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Becoming a Teacher: What I Learned about Myself During the Pandemic

Now, more than ever, we need to hear the voices of preservice teachers as well as in-service teachers during this pandemic. How has the pandemic affected them? In what ways has the pandemic enabled them to think about the need to really focus on what matters, what’s important? What were the gains and losses? These are very important questions for our time. In this essay, Alyssa Smith, a senior studying early childhood education, attempts to address the lessons learned from her junior year, focusing on the positive aspects of her coursework and demonstrating an imaginative, growth mindset. This essay highlights the power of students’ reflection on their own learning. But I think it does so much more meaningful contemplation than we might expect of our students in “normal” times. Alyssa gains a new appreciation for this kind of active reflection—the opportunity to think more critically; to be more thoughtful; to stop, step back, catch her breath, and rethink things. As a teacher educator and her mentor, I believe this essay represents how the gift of time to stop and reflect can open space to digest what has been experienced, and how the gift of reflective writing can create a deeper level of thinking about how experiences integrate with one’s larger narrative as a person.

About the Author

Andrew Stremmel, PhD, is professor in early childhood education at South Dakota State University. His research is in teacher action research and Reggio Emilia-inspired, inquiry-based approaches to early childhood teacher education. He is an executive editor of Voices of Practitioners .

I’ve always known I was meant to be a teacher. I could feel my passion guide my work and lead my heart through my classes. So why did I still feel as if something was missing? During the fall of my junior year, the semester right before student teaching, I began to doubt my ability to be a great teacher, as I did not feel completely satisfied in my work. What I did not expect was a global pandemic that would shut down school and move all coursework online. I broke down. I wanted to do more than simply be a good student. I wanted to learn to be a great teacher. How was I supposed to discover my purpose and find what I was missing when I couldn’t even attend my classes? I began to fret that I would never become the capable and inspirational educator that I strived to be, when I was missing the firsthand experience of being in classrooms, interacting with children, and collaborating with peers.

It wasn’t until my first full semester being an online student that I realized the pandemic wasn’t entirely detrimental to my learning. Two of my early childhood education courses, Play and Inquiry and Pedagogy and Curriculum, allowed limited yet meaningful participation in a university lab school as well as engagement with problems of substance that require more intense thinking, discussion, analysis, and thoughtful action. These problems, which I briefly discuss below, presented challenges, provocations, possibilities, and dilemmas to be pondered, and not necessarily resolved. Specifically, they pushed me to realize that the educational question for our time is not, “What do I need to know about how to teach?” Rather, it is, “What do I need to know about myself in the context of this current pandemic?” I was therefore challenged to think more deeply about who I wanted to be as a teacher and who I was becoming, what I care about and value, and how I will conduct myself in the classroom with my students.

These three foundations of teaching practice (who I want to be, what I value, and how I will conduct myself) were illuminated by a question that was presented to us students in one of the very first classes of the fall 2020 semester: “What’s happening right now in your experience that will help you to learn more about yourself and who you are becoming?” This provocation led me to discover that, while the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light (and at times magnified) many fears and insecurities I had as a prospective teacher, it also provided me with unique opportunities, time to reflect, and surprising courage that I feel would not otherwise have been afforded and appreciated.

Although I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I had never deliberately pondered the idea of what kind of teacher I wanted to be. I held the core values of being an advocate for children and helping them grow as confident individuals, but I still had no idea what teaching style I was to present. Fortunately, the pandemic enabled me to view my courses on play and curriculum as a big “look into the mirror” to discern what matters and what was important about becoming a teacher.

As I worked through the rest of the course, I realized that this project pushed me to think about my identity as an educator in relation to my students rather than simply helping me understand my students, as I initially thought. Instead, a teacher’s identity is formed in relation to or in relationship with our students: We take what we know about our students and use it to shape ourselves and how we teach. I found that I had to take a step back and evaluate my own perceptions and beliefs about children and who I am in relation to them. Consequently, this motivated me to think about myself as a classroom teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic. What did I know about children that would influence the way I would teach them?

I thought about how children were resilient, strong, and adaptable, possessing an innate ability to learn in nearly any setting. While there were so many uncertainties and fear surrounding them, they adapted to mask-wearing, limited children in the classroom, and differentiated tasks to limit cross-contamination. Throughout, the children embodied being an engaged learner. They did not seem to focus on what they were missing; their limitless curiosity could not keep them from learning. Yet, because young children learn primarily through relationships, they need some place of learning that helps them to have a connection with someone who truly knows, understands, and cares about them. Thus, perhaps more than any lesson, I recognized my relationship with children as more crucial. By having more time to think about children from this critical perspective, I felt in my heart the deeper meaning children held to me.

My compassion for children grew, and a greater respect for them took shape, which overall is what pushed me to see my greater purpose for who I want to be as an educator. The pandemic provided time to develop this stronger vision of children, a clearer understanding of how they learn, and how my identity as a teacher is formed in relationship with children. I don’t think I would have been able to develop such a rich picture of how I view children without an in-depth exploration of my identity, beliefs, and values.

In my curriculum course, I was presented a different problem that helped me reflect on who I am becoming as an educator. This was presented as a case study where we as students were asked the question, “Should schools reopen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic?” This was a question that stumped school districts around the nation, making me doubt that I would be able to come up with anything that would be remotely practical. I now was experiencing another significant consequence of the pandemic: a need for new, innovative thinking on how to address state-wide academic issues. My lack of confidence, paired with the unknowns presented by the pandemic, made me feel inadequate to take on this problem of meaning.

To address this problem, I considered more intentionally and reflectively what I knew about how children learn; issues of equity and inequality that have led to a perceived achievement gap; the voices of both teachers and families; a broader notion of what school might look like in the “new normal”; and the role of the community in the education of young children. Suddenly, I was thinking in a more critical way about how to address this problem from the mindset of an actual and more experienced teacher, one who had never faced such a conundrum before. I knew that I had to design a way to allow children to come back into a classroom setting, and ultimately find inspiration for learning in this new normal. I created this graphic (above) to inform families and teachers why it is vital to have students return to school. As a result, I became an educator. I was now thinking, feeling, and acting as a teacher. This case study made me think about myself and who I am becoming as a teacher in a way that was incredibly real and relevant to what teachers were facing. I now found inspiration in the COVID-19 pandemic, as it unlocked elements of myself that I did not know existed.

John Dewey (1916) has been attributed to stating, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” Learning may begin in the classroom, but it does not end there. Likewise, teaching is not a role, but a way of being. The ability to connect with children and to engage them meaningfully depends less on the methods we use than on the degree to which we know and trust ourselves and are willing to share that knowledge with them. That comes through continually reflecting on who we are in relation to children and their families, and what we do in the classroom to create more meaningful understanding of our experiences. By embodying the role of being an educator, I grew in ways that classroom curriculum couldn't prepare me for. Had it not been for the pandemic, this might not have been possible.

Dewey, J. 1916. Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education . New York: MacMillan.

Alyssa Marie Smith is currently an early childhood education student studying at South Dakota State University. She has been a student teacher in the preschool lab on campus, and now works as a kindergarten out of school time teacher in this same lab school. In the fall, she plans to student teach in an elementary setting, and then go on to teach in her own elementary classroom.

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Should I Be A Teacher? 23 Great Reasons To Consider It in 2024

November 19, 2023

Talk to all teachers you know and only a few will tell you that being a teacher is something they regret doing. Common reason is that they find fulfillment in influencing students and helping them in shaping the future. While it may not be the same for each and every educator, there would always be good reasons to become one.

If you’ve been asking yourself “ Should I become a teacher “ or “why become a teacher” this post is for you.

We’ve put together 23 amazing reasons that make teaching a self-fulfilling career. To make our reasoning more valuable, we’ve compiled opinions and recommendations from education’s top experts and influencers.

Our Experts Teachers answer: “What’s the single most important reason to become a teacher?”

The Main Reasons to Become a Teacher in 2024

1. teaching makes a difference, with visible results..

Teaching will give you the satisfaction of watching your learners discover new learning. Good teachers experience priceless joy as their students progress in academics, gain new knowledge, grow passionate about a subject, and establish a more profound interest in it.

Your role is gratifying because your learners acquire creativity and a positive approach toward life and discover their potential to lead a productive life, all through your guidance.

Teaching allows you to model effective communication, empathy, sharing, positivity, and respect for others. Being a teacher means setting a good example for your students to follow. You are responsible for modeling effective communication, respect for others, empathy, sharing, and positivity.

As an educator, you can help learners establish their strengths and interests. You can then tailor your lessons to grow their interests by allowing them to choose topics that appeal to their passions and then helping them develop their strengths and passions.

Tiffany Whitehead

“The single most important reason to become a teacher is because you have a deep love of learning and want to pass that along to others. If nothing makes you happier and more fulfilled than seeing a student discover their passion, experience success in learning, or come to understand the importance of perseverance, then teaching is for you! ”

WEBSITE: mightylittlelibrarian.com

TWITTER: @librarian_tiff

“Being a teacher is having a deep love of learning & want to pass that to others.” @librarian_tiff

Teachers are often attracted to the vocation due to a sense of service. They usually have this deep, perceptible urge to make a difference in others’ lives. By being an educator, you’ll clearly see the fruits of your labor every single day as you use your knowledge and intelligence to encourage students to become excited and eager with learning.

Ross M. McGill

“The love of learning is the single biggest reason to become a teacher. Over the past 20 years, increased accountability, politics and limited budgeting has sidelined teachers to teach to the test, rather than to nourish a love of learning.”

WEBSITE: Teacher Toolkit

TWITTER: @TeacherToolkit

“The love of learning is the single biggest reason to become a teacher.”

2. Influence the next generation.

Students look up to you as their teacher, especially if you can establish a strong relationship with them. Teachers are responsible not only for educational enrichment. You constantly connect with your students, inspire them, guide them, shape their minds, and create a well-adjusted generation for society.

Based on Pew Research Polls, teachers are some of the most important occupations in the community.

Lee Araoz The single most important reason to become a teacher is to teach students not to accept the default. The teachers of tomorrow must show students how to create change by giving them the strategies and tools needed to actively seek out new information and create unique content based on their passions. WEBSITE: The Golden Age of Education TWITTER: @LeeAraoz

“Become a teacher to teach students not to accept the default.” @LeeAraoz

3. You are constantly learning new skills.

Continuous learning will create effectiveness, creativity, and engaging ways that will make you more resourceful for your learners.

Also, besides your subject teaching area, you acquire skills to guide students in their co-curriculum activities such as school clubs, crafts, sports, and student counseling.

Here are some skills that will contribute to ensuring a fulfilling and impactful career in education:

Time planning: Practical time management skills are essential as you juggle classroom time, setting and grading tests, preparing lesson plans, and marking learner books. Here are some tips on how to manage your time effectively:
Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance
Break down large tasks into manageable steps.
Appreciate yourself for your accomplishments.
Rest ahead of involving tasks.
Communication: Effective communication is a critical skill for teachers to possess. An excellent understanding of the subject will only be helpful to your learners if you can not communicate it to them in a way that engages them and is easy to understand.
Technological skills: Technology will allow you to provide learners with tools and resources that they can more efficiently engage with. Technology also creates more exciting and interactive learning sessions that ignite the passion for learning in your students.
Empathy: The degree to which you understand and connect with your learners in their personal and social situations influences your relationships with your learners. You can build empathy by listening actively to your students, withholding judgment, and asking open-ended questions that allow them to explain their situations to you.

Meg Ormiston “Passion for changing the world should the single most important reason to become a teacher. Our future teachers need that passion, energy, creativity, and the hope that good teachers can change the future one student at a time. Our future teachers need to bring their bubbly enthusiasm into our schools and let that passion inspire colleagues. The unbridled new teacher energy is contagious and that might just re-energize some of our veteran teachers. We need passionate educators today more than ever!” WEBSITE: Megormiston.com TWITTER: @megormi

“Passion for changing the world should the most important reason to become a teacher.” @megormi

4. You build positive relationships with students, colleagues, parents, and the wider community.

Teachers are being looked up to not only by students but also by people surrounding them. Since they do an excellent job in shaping the future and molding the minds of youth, they effortlessly create positive relationships as they continue to interact and influence the younger generation.

Excellent relationships with your students, their parents, and your colleagues will promote a sense of belonging and inclusivity, improving their learning experiences. You can build better relationships with your learners by treating all learners with the same respect and kindness despite their differences.

Cordial relationships with all stakeholders increase their sense of responsibility. This enhances their support for learning outcomes and the general well-being of the whole school.

Catlin Tucker

“If you love learning, become a teacher. This profession needs curious, excited, fearless learners ready to experiment, fail, and innovate. If our goal is to cultivate life-long learners, then we must model that learning ourselves.”

WEBSITE: catlintucker.com

TWITTER: @Catlin_Tucker

“If you love learning, become a teacher.” @Catlin_Tucker

5. You’ll get to learn as well as teach.

Continuous interactions with learners encourage you to be a lifelong learner. Teaching creates a knowledge-sharing platform between you and your students. You learn from them as they learn from you.

Children are curious; their questions encourage you to continually research and find new information to bring to your learners. Some incentives come with continued learning. For instance, you can gain salary increases or be promoted to administrative positions.

Professional development programs provide a structured path for you to acquire knowledge on better teaching practices, emerging issues in education, pedagogical study theory, and network and learn from the experts. Some professional development programs are required to maintain licensure in teaching.

Professional development training will help you become a better teacher by enhancing your planning and organization skills . Ultimately, this gives you more time to focus on your students and less on the paperwork. Examples of professional development available to you as a teacher include;

Enrolling in a formal degree program, workshops, or courses
Pursuing accreditations, certificates, and credentials through educational programs
Participating in professional organizations through attending meetings, conferences, and workshops at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
Taking up job performance training on technology use
Writing research papers on emerging issues in education and presenting them at conferences and workshops.

Ann S. Michaelsen “Teachers can change the lives of children. As a teacher you have the ability to reach out and be a mentor and a role model for kids who need it. Another important reason to become a teacher is that these are changing times. Today smart students can learn pretty much whatever they want whenever they want! This is a shift we as educators have to embrace. With the use of technology what goes on in the classroom is changing. Students can solve real world problems! Classrooms and teachers are learning how to collaborate with global peers and how to create beautiful and important work that they can share with the world. At the same time fake news is becoming the norm. Students need well informed teachers to help them spot fake news and make sense of what is happening in the world. Schools are becoming more important and relevant. WEBSITE: annmichaelsen.com TWITTER: @annmic

“Teachers have the ability to reach out, be a mentor and role model for kids who need it.” @annmic

6. Sharing Knowledge is Important.

As you teach, you are continually giving back to the community and contributing to society positively as you influence the minds of future innovators, policymakers, and leaders. Teaching creates all other professions, hence sharing your knowledge significantly shapes society and future generations.

Your ability to share is influenced by how much intellectual wealth you accumulate. Educational blogs and websites provide the resources to grow your wealth of knowledge, giving you the credibility you need to inspire your students positively.

You must establish your network of teachers to support each other and share ideas, new instructional trends, and resources to inspire your learners better.

Jeffrey Bradbury

The single most important reason to become a teacher is to have the opportunity to give back. Every teacher has that one teacher who went out of their way to make sure that they found their path. When you work with students, you have the amazing ability and responsibility to provide guidance and mentorship to an entirely new generation of young adults. It is our responsibility and duty to pass on our knowledge and leave the world better than when we first found it.

WEBSITE: jeffreybradbury.com

TWITTER: @JeffBradbury

“Being a teacher is to having the opportunity to give back.” @JeffBradbury

Turquoise Parker I cannot be what I cannot see, help me reimagine my possibilities. Representation matters. In adulthood, my ever growing awareness of the present and historic inequities that people of color face in our country has compelled me to reevaluate those systems and my participation in them. Website: mrsparkersprofessors.blogspot.com Twitter: @PrkrsProfessors

“Being a teacher of color is my powerful weapon to help change this world.” @PrkrsProfessors

7. Teachers can work all over the world.

Your teaching credential is portable and can be used to teach in different states, overseas, and in different types of schools.

Across the nation, there is an increasing demand for educators as school districts hope to hire qualified educators to address the educational needs of students.

The demand for teachers has risen in the most developed regions, including California, Texas, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Florida, and New York. Therefore, you can choose where to work and live across the country.

The specific content areas experiencing teacher shortages across states include:

World languages
English as a second language
Mathematics
Special education
Early childhood
Art and music

Tim Bedley “One reason I became a teacher was that I love running my own business. I love organizing events.” WEBSITE: timbedley.com TWITTER: @tbed63

“One reason I became a teacher was that I love running my own business.” @tbed63

Current demand for teachers rises in the most developed regions, including California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York. Experienced teachers have the privilege to choose where to live and work anywhere in the world. And in every location, they’d always be admired and respected for being in such a noble profession.

Kevin Honeycutt “Teaching is the closest thing we as a species have to permanence. Transmitting our knowledge through time while inspiring new knowledge is the highest of honors.” WEBSITE: best-keynote.com TWITTER: @kevinhoneycutt

“#Teaching is the closest thing we as a species have to permanence.” @kevinhoneycutt

8. Teaching is the best job in the world.

Not only because it is a noble profession, but it also allows you to be continuously creative and be better professionally. You can hone your creativity in every lesson by adding interest to capture your students’ attention. Nowadays, teachers have plenty of opportunities to be creative and exhaust all methods possible to create an optimum learning environment for students.

They can use creativity in various ways to promote learner activities that optimize learning, such as;

Learning by doing: This technique will allow learners to understand concepts better. An experimental approach to learning creates critical thinkers who use their abilities to explore their interests.
Encouraging curiosity: You can do this by encouraging your learners to ask questions and express their perspectives on various learning concepts.
Allowing brainstorming sessions: This stimulates the thought process of developing ideas that encourage creative thinking in the learners’ minds.
Allowing failure: Allowing failure develops open-minded views that diminish judgment and allow different learner perspectives to thrive.
Respecting every learner’s input: When learners disagree on ideas, you should make none feel that their answers were inadequate. All inputs should be considered necessary for learning. Creating an environment tolerant of dissent encourages creativity.

Lillie Marshall “Teaching is a rare combination of creativity, intellectual challenge, and fun, paired with the opportunity to create positive change on a hands-on, daily basis. If you find a school that’s a match for your passions, and a district that’s supportive, there is no better job. “ WEBSITE: TeachingTraveling.com TWITTER: @WorldLillie

“Teaching is a rare combination of creativity, intellectual challenge, and fun.” @WorldLillie

Frederick M. Hess It’s pretty damn simple, really. You’re working with kids. You’re shaping values. You’re building character. You’re helping young minds wrestle with big ideas. Teachers do the work that everyone else just talks about. If one sets aside for a moment issues of compensation, bureaucratic nonsense, and professional dead-ends, it’s the best work there is. Website: Blog for Ed Week Twitter: @rickhess99 Author of Letters to a Young Education Reformer

“By being a teacher, you’re helping young minds wrestle with big ideas.” @rickhess99

9. No two days are the same.

Most professionals cringe at the thought of a routine career every day, from 9-5. With teaching, every day is different. You work through new units in the curriculum and incorporate ideas, teaching methods, and learner activities that spark learners’ interest, livening up the classroom.

You encounter new learners with different characters, perspectives, and backgrounds each school year.

For instance, one day, you may be focused on teaching, another one on testing, and another one on revising the tests, giving you a variety of activities to liven up your days.

It might be the same lesson content for several sessions if you teach high school, but it is unlikely that any two lessons will unfold similarly.

Since you’re interacting with new learners with new personalities, each session brings varied experiences through their questions, reactions, their struggles, and their fascination points. This variety makes our days interesting.

Alice Keeler “Because LEARNING is important and life changing.” WEBSITE: alicekeeler.com TWITTER: @alicekeeler

“Because #LEARNING is important and life-changing.” @alicekeeler

10. You’ll benefit from flexible hours.

Teaching is considered one of the most secure careers to date, thanks to high levels of immigration. Right now, schools are growing persistently. As a result, the government is exerting more efforts to meet teacher supply now and in the last 3 years. As long as you have gone through the required steps into teaching, retaining your position is fairly easy. Also, teaching is a valuable skill that you can easily take with you even if you leave the country.

Gary G. Abud Jr. “Why be a teacher? To help kids learn & grow. A great teacher can change the life of a student.” WEBSITE: WeLoveTeaching.org TWITTER: @MR_ABUD

“Why be a teacher? To help kids learn & grow.” @MR_ABUD

11. You’ll have job security.

Teaching is considered one of the most secure careers to date, thanks to high levels of immigration. Right now, schools are growing persistently. Therefore there will always be a younger generation to guide and inspire.

As long as you have gone through the required steps into teaching, retaining your position is easy. Also, teaching is a valuable skill you can easily take with you even if you leave the country.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the expected growth between 2021 and 2031 is 5% for high school teachers, 4% for kindergarten and elementary teachers, and 3% for special education and elementary school teachers.

The states with the most open kindergarten teaching positions include; Texas, California, Florida, Washington, and New York.

California, Texas, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania require high school teachers, while New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois require special education teachers.

Ginger Lewman

“I find that teaching allows us to influence the world in ways that are tangible, lasting, and like no other. If you want to make a true, positive impact on the world, be a teacher who cares about the betterment of kids’ lives.”

WEBSITE: GingerLewman.org

TWITTER: @GingerLewman

“Be a teacher who cares about the betterment of kids’ lives.” @GingerLewman

12. Get independence.

A teacher is the pillar of every classroom. This means you’ll be the one to decide what’s best for your students and how you intend to design your lesson plans.

While it is necessary to follow your curriculum’s outline, you still have the freedom to infuse your personality as you ace your way to teaching. Independence allows you to adjust your instruction method to suit the learner’s understanding.

For instance, engage them in activities that allow them to reflect, resolve problems individually, and develop a deeper understanding of the learning material. You do this by asking open-ended questions, high-order questions, and developing classroom discourse.

Kasey Bell “Teaching is a calling to serve and do what’s best for kids.” WEBSITE: shakeuplearning.com TWITTER: @ShakeUpLearning

“It is important to have a calling to serve and do what’s best for kids.” @ShakeUpLearning

13. At the same time, you’ll get to reach out to society.

Teaching is more than just receiving a paycheck. It’s a satisfying career knowing you’ll be honored to make a difference in students’ lives. You give your children purpose and direction, setting them up for successful societal integration. Teaching allows you to inspire and drive the successes of future generations hence impacting society in a significant manner.

Kath Murdoch

“Right now, the most important reason to become a teacher is the opportunity to nurture the critical, curious and courageous minds we will need to navigate our way through complex futures.”

WEBSITE: Kath Murdoch

BLOG: Justwondering

TWITTER: @kjinquiry

“A teacher gives an opportunity to nurture the critical, curious, and courageous minds.” @kjinquiry

14. You’ll have more than just a job.

Most of the time, teachers enjoy a great summer vacation, not to mention holiday breaks and spring vacations. If you’re a teacher with kids, this is a great advantage since you’ll get to spend quality time with them since they’ll be on vacation too.

Alternatively, you’ll get extra time to work as a summer school teacher. You can also travel or pursue things that you enjoy doing.

For instance, you could participate in holiday team building, community service projects, attend holiday movie nights, make gingerbread houses with your children, attend a professional development program, or even read a book.

Kathy Schrock The single most important reason to become a teacher is to help students become critical and creative thinkers, as well as life-long learners. With the influx of technology into PreK-12 education, there is no more exciting time to develop problem and project based units of study that allow students to use their reasoning, digital literacy, and creative skill sets to showcase their learning!“ WEBSITE: Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything TWITTER: @kathyschrock

“Teachers help students be critical and creative thinkers and life-long learners.” @kathyschrock

15. You’ll have longer vacations.

Teaching will give your school breaks over which you can do everything to help you wind down. Some activities include; traveling, taking up professional development, bonding with your family, and visiting relatives. You could supplement your income by being a camp counselor or private tutor.

You could try house painting jobs or volunteer in a hospice if you want a complete break from teaching and mentoring children.

Such breaks see you return to the classroom restored, refreshed, and ready for another school session.

Dr. Lodge McCammon “Teaching is a noble pursuit that provides a citizen the chance to make a significant and lasting contribution to society. It’s sometimes difficult to find purpose on a planet with seven billion souls but every minute in the classroom presents an opportunity to inspire a love of learning. This inspiration is the primary element needed for building our future.” WEBSITE: lodgemccammon.com TWITTER: @pocketlodge

“Teaching provides the chance to make a significant contribution to society.” @pocketlodge

16. Ensures that your vocabulary, fashion, and music tastes remain current and relevant.

Kids are good at catching up with the ins and outs of fashion, music, and spoken language, especially now that social media dominates how we interact. By being constantly around them, you’re sure to adapt the behavior without even realizing it.

Also, being in touch with the emerging trends in the world today makes you well-prepared to guide your students better and be a better parent to your children.

Matt Bergman “Students are the single most important reason that I became a teacher. Every day I have the incredible responsibility to invest my energies in creating a better future. Each day is an opportunity to impact the present, invest in the future, and learn from our past.” BLOG: Learn Lead Grow TWITTER: @mattbergman14

“Students are the single most important reason that I became a teacher.” @mattbergman14

17. You become a role model. People look to you for advice and guidance and that feels pretty good.

Your students look up to you for developing positive attitudes, values, and behaviors. Also, as a teacher, people admire you as a knowledgeable person. They then look to you for advice and guidance in their lives. Your students, colleagues, and parents value your insights, a source of pride for many teachers.

Melissa Taylor “You love helping kids grow into their best selves.” WEBSITE: Imagination Soup TWITTER: @imaginationsoup

“You love helping kids grow into their best selves.” @imaginationsoup

Monica Burns “Becoming a teacher is a privilege. It is an opportunity to strengthen the critical thinking skills and spark curiosity in children. ” WEBSITE: Class Tech Tips TWITTER: @ClassTechTips

“Being a teacher can strengthen the critical thinking skills in children.” @ClassTechTips

18. The children teach you as much as you teach them.

Teaching can make you a learner in deeply profound ways. An innocent question from a student can help you reflect on different ways of understanding a given concept. For instance, considering the diversity of backgrounds of your students, you learn lots of cultural and social dynamics.

Meris Stansbury “To cultivate lifelong passion in those you teach—passion for art, passion for math, passion for learning in general. A teacher has the unique, incredible power to recognize personal interest from a student and blossom a mere question, quizzical tilt of the head, or furious completion of a task into decades of fulfillment. All it took was a high school English teacher to notice how often I would pull out novels (not required in class) to read between classes to suggest I join her extracurricular poetry class, which then led to a summer writer’s camp at a notable college, further developed into an English degree at said college, and culminated in today’s Editorial Director of a national education publication walking to work every morning excited for the day’s tasks and eager for what the future has in store.” Editorial Director @ ecampusnews.com | eschoolnews.com TWITTER: @meriscci

“A teacher cultivates lifelong passion in those they teach” @meriscci

19. There is constant laughter.

Learning is fun for both the learners and teachers. General humor is essential for attracting your learners and keeping them interested.

Also, laughter is beneficial in the classroom as it boosts the motivation and retention of learned content. To effectively use humor to enhance retention, it should be topic-related and age-appropriate.

Mike Lawrence

“A love of learning and a desire to spread that love.”

BLOG: blog.cue.org

TWITTER: @techmaverick

“A love of learning and a desire to spread that love.” @techmaverick

20. The “thank-yous” mean a lot.

Gifts and freebies when you’re a teacher are inevitable. Still, the verbal gratitude from parents and students whom you’ve influenced positively is plain priceless.

Neil Jarrett “Educating our future is the single most important reason to become a teacher.” WEBSITE: EDTECH 4 BEGINNERS TWITTER: @edtechneil

“Educating our future is the single most important reason to become a teacher.” @edtechneil

21. You get to meet colleagues with a passion for teaching equal to yours. They might become friends for life.

When you become a teacher, you gain new friends in your same field. The great thing about this is that you share the same commitment to the craft. This allows you to gain new ideas, share passion, and relate with people having the same profession as yours.

These colleagues will inform you of upcoming networking opportunities, professional development programs, workshops, seminars, and events where other teachers exchange great ideas and instructional best practices.

Terry Heick “Teaching is the most noble craft because, done well, it seeks above else a better world one human being at a time.” WEBSITE: TeachThought TWITTER: @TeachThought

“Teaching seeks above else a better world on human being at a time.” @TeachThought

22. Teaching becomes your life.

When you constantly engage with learners, the passion for always sharing knowledge becomes part of you. You will then be a resource to your friends, family, and community as a source of inspiration, as teachers are known to be knowledgeable.

The passion for continuous teaching grows from the little joys you experience when someone seeks your guidance in various parts of their life. The memories of the great joy and satisfaction of imparting knowledge become a lifelong treasure.

Teaching is not simply a job with plenty of vacation days – you wouldn’t change it for the world.

Kayla Delzer “I think one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is having the ability to influence kids, and shape the kind of world I want to live in. I’m able to make a difference in the lives of students and their families in meaningful ways every single day. It’s incredibly fulfilling and humbling all at the same time.” WEBSITE: topdogteaching.com TWITTER: @TopDogTeaching

“Teaching gives the ability to influence kids & shape the world.” @TopDogTeaching

Stavros Halvatzis

“Truly gifted teachers do more than facilitate the transfer and understanding of information. They inspire lives by instilling values. I was privileged enough to have been taught by several such inspirational teachers. It’s one of the reasons I went into teaching myself – in the hope of emulating them.”

WEBSITE: www.stavroshalvatzis.com

TWITTER: @SHalvatzis

“Gifted teachers inspire lives by instilling values.” @SHalvatzis

23. The youth need you.

According to the Economic Policy Institute’s publication of 2019, the teacher shortage is real and continually worsening. A shortage of educators has negative implications on the public education system as a whole, but mainly on the youth in school that depend on these educators for guidance, inspiration, and education.

Becoming a Teacher is In Demand

Becoming a teacher will bring highly sought-after input for curriculum instruction, learner guidance, and inspiration.

Source: Learning Policy Institute

The illustration above shows the projected teacher supply versus demand up to the year 2025.

Benefits of Becoming a Teacher

If you’re ever wondering, “why should I be a teacher” or having doubts about the occupation, below is a list of some benefits this career has to offer:

A fulfilling job with tangible results – As a teacher, you’re able to see the impact that you’re having on the lives of students. You can watch them improve, become a role model, and so much more.
Time off during holidays – With teaching, your time off follows the school calendar. While it may not be exact, many teachers are able to take time off during the winter holidays and over the summer.
Shaping the next generations – While it may sound cliché, teachers are educating and impacting the lives of future generations. A majority of what they learn is in the hands of teachers, so as a teacher, you have great responsibility and influence.
A dynamic work environment with new experiences – Being a teacher is hardly boring. You are faced with challenges and different scenarios each day. Not every student is the same, so your work environment changes with the students that you may be teaching.
Work with parents and students towards the same goal – Many parents care a great deal about the education that their child may receive. Being a teacher, you are able to collaborate with parents on goals and objectives that they may want their child to achieve. Similarly, you can work with students to see if they have the same ideas and how best it would be to go about attaining them.

Steps to Becoming a Teacher

If you are interested in becoming a teacher but aren’t sure where to start, have no fear. Below is a list of steps you must take in order for you to become a teacher.

Get a bachelor’s degree in education.
Consider getting a master’s degree in education.
Check the certificate requirements of your state.
Apply for an internship to gain relevant experience.
Apply for teaching jobs.

Subject areas where teacher demands are the highest.

Become a Teacher Today

Indisputably, teaching is a career to love and be proud of. There will be days of frustration, but the benefits outweigh them at the end of the day. If these advantages excite the educator in you, teaching could be the career you’re looking for.

Make a difference, discover potentials, and inspire others by getting a stable career in education. Ask about teacher certification programs available in your state. Or learn how to ace your teacher interview .

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How to Become a Teacher in Colorado in 2023

November 19, 2023 by astratton

Texas Teachers Certification Areas

Texas teachers currently offers 50+ certification areas:.

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 6–12 (272)
American Sign Language (ASL) (184)
Art EC–12 (178)
Bilingual Education Supplemental (164)
Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish (190)
Business and Finance 6–12 (276)
Chemistry 7–12 (240)
Computer Science 8–12 (241)
Core Subjects EC-6 (291)
Core Subjects 4–8 (211)
Dance 6–12 (279)
English as a Second Language Supplemental (154)
English Language Arts and Reading 4–8 (117)
English Language Arts and Reading 7–12 (231)
English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies 4–8 (113)
Family and Consumer Sciences EC-12 (200)
Health EC–12 (157)
Health Science 6–12 (273)
History 7–12 (233)
Journalism 7–12 (256)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Arabic EC–12 (600 & 605)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) French EC–12 (610)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) German EC–12 (611)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Latin EC–12 (612)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Japanese EC–12 (602 & 607)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Mandarin Chinese EC–12 (601 & 606)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Russian EC–12 (603 & 608)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Spanish EC–12 (613)
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Vietnamese EC–12 (604 & 609)
Life Science 7–12 (238)
Marketing 6–12 (275)
Mathematics 4–8 (115)
Mathematics 7–12 (235)
Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering 6–12 (274)
Mathematics/Science 4–8 (114)
Music EC–12 (177)
Physical Education EC–12 (158)
Physical Science 6–12 (237)
Physics/Mathematics 7–12 (243)
Science 4–8 (116)
Science 7–12 (236)
Social Studies 4–8 (118)
Social Studies 7–12 (232)
Special Education EC–12 (161)
Speech 7–12 (129)
Technology Applications EC–12 (242)
Technology Education 6–12 (171)
Texas Assessment of Sign Communication–American Sign Language™ (TASC–ASL™) (073)
Theatre EC–12 (180)
Trade and Industrial (T&I)

InterviewPenguin.com – Your best job interview coach since 2011

Teacher interview questions answered: Why do you want to be a teacher?

Each of us has some values, ambitions, fears and worries . These things determine to a huge extend our career choice , though we should realize that the ambitions and fears are also determined by something–our upbringing, role models, things we experienced in our childhood. You can talk about all these things when the hiring committee inquires why you want to become a teacher , or when they ask you a similar question, for example “ What attracts you to teaching? “, or “ Why did you choose teaching as a profession? ” But what do they really want to hear from you?

First and foremost, they want to hear some enthusiasm in your voice . They want to feel that, regardless of the reasons why you opted for a teaching career, you are enthusiastic about your future, your teaching mission at their school. And they also want to hear a strong enough reason, something profound , since the strong motivation will help you get over difficult days in the classroom. And such days will undoubtedly come…

Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to the question. The list contains some standard choices, but also a couple of strange and unconventional answers . Try to pick one that resonates with your values, and clearly explain the reasons why you want to be a teacher, and teach for many years to come.

7 sample answers to “Why do you want to be a teacher?” interview question

I chose teaching as a professions because I love the impact one can have on individual children , especially here at elementary level. Of course it’s a great responsibility , but at the same time I cannot imagine devoting my life to something else, especially since I love being around children –which is likely the second reason why I want to be a teacher. In my view, teaching is more a mission than a job really, especially in the uncertain times we live nowadays. I cannot wait to start working as a teacher.
I want to become a teacher because I believe to have the right skills, abilities, and attitude to become a good teacher. And I enjoy teaching, talking to children, listening to them , trying to understand their emotional world, and be a good role model for them. At the end of the day, we should do a job in which we see some meaningful purpose . I know that I could earn twice as much working in some big corporation analyzing some data or sitting at a computer programming another mobile application, the billionth on the app store…. But I just don’t see a point in such type of work. Teaching is a completely different story.
I just want to share my vast knowledge of history and geography with the students. I’ve been doing research in these field for years, publishing papers, going to conferences. At this stage of my professional career, however, I feel that I should hand the ball to the younger generation . It is time to share my knowledge with them, and perhaps have them better understand certain phenomenons of the modern day . History is the best teacher in this case, if you can look at it without prejudice. The proposition of helping them to see these things is highly motivating to me.
To be honest with you, my ultimate goal is to become a school principal , or even to establish a small private elementary school. But I am still young and inexperienced , and need to learn a lot from seasoned professionals. And I cannot see a better place than your school, which has an excellent reputation and renowned leadership. That’s why I want to work as a teacher here.
My goal to pay back a big favor attracts me to teaching as a profession . When I was young I struggled to find my place in life. I was a sort of an outsider, always attracted to strange ways, spending times with other outcasts. Had my episode with drugs, skipping school, and everything. But one teacher saved me from a path that would eventually lead me to a lie on the street. They showed huge confidence in my abilities , and they treated me as an equal. Certain things they said to me, and their trust, motivated me to change my ways completely. I became an excellent student, managed to quit drugs and lousy lifestyle, and eventually graduated from the university. Nothing of it would have happened, however, had I not met that one teacher… Now it is my time to help other struggling youngsters find their way. Or at least try my best to do so.
To be honest, I am very concerned about the situation in the world. The inequality of people, the widening gap between the rich and poor, the conflicts we have all around. And I do not believe that some Messiah from heaven will come and save us . We people are responsible, and education is the most powerful weapon we have in our hands–if used correctly. I want to help educate children, especially in rural areas. Help them develop the right values, the sense of self-worth, and of course an ability to think critically and question the religious and political leaders . In this way I can play my small role in helping to make the world a better place. Maybe it is just a drop in the ocean. But even the biggest ocean consists of nothing but water drops…
Teaching is a calling I’ve been following from a young age . I am not sure if I can explain it clearly, why teaching, why not social work, or healthcare. But sometimes you just hear this voice in your head, this calling in your soul, and you know that something is the right thing to do , or the right goal to follow. That’s how I have always felt about teaching, that’s the reason why I chose my school, and ultimately the reason why I sit in this interview with you right now.

Conclusion, other tough questions for your teaching job interview

Teaching is a mission, a calling. Sometimes a pleasure, and sometimes a cross you carry on your shoulders . As long as you know why you do it, however, why you are a teacher and not a manager, engineer, or doctor, you will always get over the difficult period, or over some bad words you may hear in the classroom, or even from fellow staff members.

Ensure the hiring committee that you have your reasons, that they are deeply rooted in your heart, and you won’t quit the profession after first few months. And remember that stories are the best interview answers . Narrating a story of a teacher helping you in your young age, doing something that eventually changed the course of your life, is a great idea. If you have such story, share it with your interviewers.

And if you want to simplify your interview preparation , check out my new eBook the Teacher Interview Guide , for brilliant answers to all 40 teacher interview questions (+ more). Thank you!

Other interview questions that may interest you :

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher?
Teacher interview – Tell me about yourself .
Where do you see yourself in five years as a teacher?
Teacher interview – Tell us more about your teaching experience.
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Shaping the Future: My Decision to Pursue a Career in Teaching

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Topic: Career Goals , Teacher , Teaching

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19 Top Ideas for a “Why I want to be a Teacher” Essay

1. Definitely do not say “because kids are fun”. Do this instead.

2. Explain how teaching helps the world! Here’s how.

3. Discuss your commitment to community. Here’s how.

4. Discuss the personality traits you think you can bring to the role. Here’s how.

5. Conclude with the things you still need to learn. Here’s how.

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I Want to Become a Teacher Because | My Dream Job Essay

1. Giving Brings Its Own Rewards

by Hanna Halliar

by Savannah Stamates

by Charity Latchman

by Katheryn England

by Emma Lillard-Geiser

2. Help Disadvantaged Students

by Ian T Thomason

by Katherine

by Robbie Watson

by Natalie Pelayo

by Abigail Young

3. Helping Many People Is Achievable in Teaching

by Rachel Bayly

by Megan Burns

by Victoria Shoemkaer

4. Lives Can Be Improved by Dedicated Instructors

by Savannah Luree Weverka

by Aaron Banta

by Chelsea Rogers

by Micayla Watroba

5. Promote Lifelong Learning in Young People

by Lesley Martinez-Silva

by Brianna Rivers

by Jennamarie Moody

by Julie Anderson

6. Teachers Are Excellent Role Models

by Teresa Pillifant

by Mo Cabiles

by Gia Sophia Sarris

by Jennifer Wolfert

by Jenyfer Pegg

7. Unlock the Success Potential of Students

by Tamara Vega

by Nicole Gongora

by Madison Sherrill

by Alicia Costin

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