When Did You Pick Your Path?
Posted by Jen Bragg on 17 Jul 2009 | Posted in: Inspiration and Motivation, Teachers and Teaching
The question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” seemed to pop up frequently when I was younger. Sometimes it was posed by a teacher for a writing assignment, and other times it was asked by a classmate seated nearby at the lunch table. Once or twice, I’m sure it was an inquiry made by a distant relative. What was my number one answer? A teacher. It always seemed like the natural choice to me. And with the help of my family, I even had my own little classroom set up in our basement. It had a large chalkboard to write on, an old-fashioned student desk (my mom bought it at a yard sale when we lived in Illinois), and tons of stuffed animals to teach. I even had some math workbooks my older brother made for me. (Using carbon paper, he duplicated pages and bound them in file folders—as a youngster in the ’70s, I thought them pretty fancy!) It was tons of fun, and even though I considered other careers during my teen years, when it was time for college, education was still my top choice.
What about you? When did you decide that teaching was the profession for you? Has it been a lifelong interest or did you discover it later in life, after dabbling with other careers? I’d love to hear from you!
Congratulations to Audrey in Pasadena, California. She is the winner of a copy of 500 Classroom Tips, Grades K-1 in our weekly blog drawing.
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41 Responses to “When Did You Pick Your Path?”
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More Comments Pages: [1] 2 3 4 » Show All Comments
I always wanted to be a teacher but I thought every girl wanted to be a teacher or a nurse in the late 60’s early 70’s. I married right out of high school and five years later began our family. I began working as a paraprofessional at the school my children attended after our last child was born. I worked with some great teachers who encouraged me to go to college. I told my husband and he said, “Go ahead if you want to.” Much to my surprise I began at a community college - one class at a time - and picked up more classes each semester. Learning how to balance family, work, and school was a challenge but thanks to my husband who helped out with our three children. I graduated six years after I started classes and had my degree in Dec. after I turned 40 in April. I am now in my 14th year of teaching and loving it so much. I firmly believe having my children see me going through school and getting my degree encouraged them to go on also. We now have a teacher, a lawyer, and a police officer! My only regret is not going to school sooner so I could teach for more years. I love it!
I’ve known since I was 8 years old that I wanted to be a teacher. I have three brothers and two sisters who were really tired of playing school by the time we reached our adult years. They knew I always wanted to be a teacher, too. However, I got sidetracked having babies (we have 8 children) and did not go back to college until I was 40. At last, I got to be a teacher at 43. I love it.
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. At first I thought I would be a Math teacher, but Calculus did me in! I then went into Elementary Ed. and I’m so glad I did! I’ve taught every grade from Preschool through 8th grade, but I must admit, I LOVE the little ones! After teaching Preschool for three years, which I absolutely had the BEST time doing, I will be teaching Kindergarten in the fall. It will be interesting to see how far my Preschoolers have come and to prepare them further for their future.
As a young woman, my first career was to be a licensed nurse. But when I had children, I hated leaving them to go to work and I was always tired when I got home. I am a people person, however, and as my children were growing I found myself volunteering in their activities such as Girl Scouting, Boy Scouting, and religious education. I wanted to go back to work when they were in school and I took a job as a paraprofessional. I loved being in the classroom and began taking classes to become a teacher. Working, going to school, and raising a family was tough but the life experience has made me a better teacher, attuned to all aspects of a student’s life as well as a parent’s life. I never regret my career change. I love being in the classroom.
A high school English teacher told me after giving a demonstration speech that I would make a good teacher. As I tried to choose a major in college, everyone said to not go into education because there were no jobs (early 80’s). When a friend in college who was an elem. educ. major told me all the fun and interesting things she was doing in her methods classes and in the classes she was observing, I knew that there wasn’t anything else I wanted to do. I have never regretted the path I chose.
I knew in 3rd grade. I wanted to be just like my teacher:) She was wonderful!!!
I always thought that I didn’t have the patience to be a teacher until I got a part-time job in college working with a Reading program through a local district. After being with them for 3 years, I realized how much I loved making a difference in a child’s life. That was the first job I had where I actually thought I made a difference in the world and wanted to continue.
I knew that I wanted to become a teacher when I was in the 2nd grade. I also knew that I wanted to work with children that had special needs. We had a fellow classmate who was physically challenged and I really enjoyed being around and helping him. So I majored in special education in college and loved it! I have just completed my 18th year of teaching at the same school and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!
Wow… many of you have had a clear path straight to teaching. I didn’t decide on being a teacher until I was 30 years old, and in my 3rd year of college. I had my daughter just then, and I went into teaching thinking.. ohhhh the summers would be great to have off with my daughter.
Little did I know that teaching is the hardest but most rewarding career choice. I am thrilled to be a first grade teacher. My first year of teaching was not all that it was cracked up to be. I survived, after working 70 hour weeks for 40 weeks and crying in my Cherrios each Monday and Friday. However, by the end of the year to see my students blossom into wonderful READING….. 2nd graders was very rewarding.
As I look upon my 2nd year as a First Grade teacher.. I am inspired by my first class, knowing that this year is going to be better, challenging and very rewarding!
Isn’t it funny that so many of us have always wanted to be teachers. I used to play school for hours! I have always wanted to be a teacher. Now, I have my wish. My girls come to school with me and it is great to see their love of teaching. They both play school and want to be teachers when they grow up…we will see:)
When I was a 2nd grader, my best friend and I would take turns. One day, we would play school and I was the teacher. The next day we reversed and played house and housewives. Many years later, at our 30 year school reunion, she said to me, “Well, we both got to do what we wanted to do!” She was so right.
My fourth grade teacher introduced me to the magical world of reading. She read Charlotte’s Web to the class. My parents were divorced that school year…prior to that they would fight almost every night. We didn’t have any books at home and I remember asking Mrs. Shirk if I could take Charlotte’s Web home. She, of course, said yes. Whenever my parents would fight, I would get in a safe place (corner, closet, whatever) with my younger brother or sister and I would read aloud Charlotte’s Web so “they” wouldn’t get so upset (or me.) Reading became my “out.” A way to escape.
I did not become a teacher until I was married to my second husband. We did not have children (and didn’t want any) and he began asking me what I wanted to do with my life. I told him I always wanted to teach. He asked me what I was waiting for. He said, “Go to the college and see what you need to do.”
I told him about how when I asked about college as a teenager my dad said, “We’re not college people.”
My husband said, “You are now!”
I said, “It takes four years to become a teacher!”
He said, “So…”
I said, “But I will be almost 40 before I finish college!”
He said…”Aren’t you going to be 40 anyway?”
I laughed and he said, “So why not be 40 and a teacher!”
Now here I am, 51 years old and about to begin my 13th year of teaching. I absolutely love to teach. It was the best thing I have ever been talked into doing!