what motivates you to become a teacher essay brainly

•   Friday, April 12, 2024

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.

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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/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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What Motivates You to Teach—and Inspires You When You Need a Boost

Explore more.

• Managing Yourself
• Perspectives

E ducators have spent the last two years trudging through the muck and overcoming the various challenges thrown their way. Now many are soon to take a well-deserved break—which will end much too quickly, as they always do. So let’s relish this moment and reflect: What keeps you in this job, anyway?

To start that conversation, we recently asked you to share what motivates you to come back to the classroom each term—no matter the challenges—and what strategies you use to give yourself a burst of inspiration when needed. Here’s what you had to say.

Q. What motivates and inspires you to keep teaching, no matter the challenges?

Exequiel Hernandez, Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania: More than anything else, it’s the students. I think of the love and responsibility I have toward them. They’re putting an enormous amount of trust in me, hoping that they’ll learn something useful for their professional and personal development. They’re also paying a lot of money for each minute of class. If I can make it about them and not me, it’s really motivating.

Lilian Ajayi-Ore, adjunct professor, New York University School of Professional Studies: I am inspired by my passion for teaching and my intrinsic commitment to supporting students in the classroom and in navigating their careers post-program.

“More than anything else, it’s the students.” Exequiel Hernandez

Pedro Monagas Asensio, STEM education professor and research professor, Polytechnic University of Catalonia: Being a reference and a guide to my students—while avoiding being a theoretician without practical resources—is what motivates me. I always try to ensure my syllabus has content and practical meaning to stimulate my students. I also try to set an example for my students, both as a person and as a professional, and connect with them as much as possible. After graduation, many of my students working in the industry consult me and inform me of their professional advances.

I am also motivated by having the ability to make educational visits to industrial companies and to invite professionals to my classroom to give my students a master class.

Susan Lee, lecturer at the Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore: Meeting new students, testing iterations of teaching approaches, and refreshing and customizing content that reflects dynamic changes in reality are all immensely rewarding experiences of teaching term after term. It always excites me to motivate students to learn and apply skills in their world immediately.

It’s a priority for me that students recognize the relevance and usefulness of classroom learning in authentic settings. This includes integrating examples that are current and of interest to my students. Often, these are drawn from research and reflections of related trends and news. Last year, as the demand for office space fell during the pandemic, I created a proposal-writing task that required real estate students to suggest ways to re-configure office spaces for lease. Discussing real-world challenges and relevance motivates students to communicate their ideas more persuasively.

Nellie El Enany, assistant professor, School of Business, The American University in Cairo: I get excited about learning new things—whether it be through podcasts, documentaries, or the news—and always want to share what I learn with my students. I want to not only teach my students and pass on invaluable information, but also inspire them, particularly when it relates to how they can be activists—social or corporate—and changemakers in society.

Before the start of term, I always think about classes that were fantastic. I wonder if they will be the same and hope that they will be even better, and perhaps that desire to make each term more exciting and innovative than previous ones is what drives me to start all over again with a new dose of passion.

Q. What strategies do you use to give yourself an extra boost of inspiration when you need it?

Hernandez: I find a quiet place a few minutes before class where I can ponder and pray to focus my thoughts and emotions. I express gratitude for the opportunity to be with my students for a few minutes that day. I visualize the students, imagine what they might need, and anticipate what the most positive interaction with them might look like.

I also plan exactly what will happen during the first moment of that day’s class—if I can get that right, the rest flows more easily. If it’s a particularly hard day to get motivated, I remember past successes: students from prior semesters who expressed gratitude, conversations in which we learned deeply from one another, and stuff like that. It’s all about getting into a student-focused mindset instead of a professor-focused mindset.

“I became more active in participating in academic events and programming—working with my departments on critical initiatives and offering myself as a resource.” Lilian Ajayi-Ore

Ajayi-Ore: Teaching through the pandemic wasn’t easy emotionally for me, and I know it was the same for my fellow educators. For an extra boost of inspiration, I became more active in participating in academic events and programming—working with my departments on critical initiatives and offering myself as a resource.

The other thing I did was increase my coping mechanism knowledge by being proactive in reading interviews and articles about how other faculty cope with various academic situations.

Asensio: Some of the projects my students work on in class become real products for the market. The satisfaction of knowing that my students go out to the labor market giving work and not asking for it, and that they leave my teachings generating and licensing industrial properties such as patents and trademarks, makes me proud.

Lee: I take breaks and get inspired by trekking (long hikes), reading resources on professional sharing platforms like The Marginalian , news sources, and thoughtful sharing from individuals like Susan Cain , Simon Sinek , and Adam Grant .

I am often refreshed and recharged with a mini routine change or engagement in novel challenges. Learning something new is my energy booster. A quick way to do this is to try a new recipe or navigate a different hike. During vacation, I do workshops like pottery. These activities give me the headspace to distance myself from the day-to-day thinking patterns, which are geared toward completing work-related tasks. My own struggle to learn also develops empathy for challenged learners.

“I am often refreshed and recharged with a mini routine change or engagement in novel challenges. Learning something new is my energy booster.” Susan Lee

Enany: I’ve been lucky at my university to be able to teach so many different courses and integrate new and up-to-date research and topics into existing ones. Many of my students, past and present, know that I am passionate about community work with stray dogs in Cairo, the natural environment, teaching children in my community, and visiting orphanages. This always keeps me energetic and humble, and I love getting my students involved in any community work I do.

I am really proud of so many of my students for being social activists and coming along to events and activities around a whole range of community initiatives. Seeing them do this always keeps me inspired.

Staying grateful and happy, as cliche as it sounds, is something I always try to focus on. I’m grateful for being able to be back physically in the classroom post–COVID-19, for being able to learn from my students, and for being connected to so many fantastic educators around the world.

You’re Not in This Alone

Although we weren’t surprised to hear that your passion for ideas and your deep respect for your students are the main reasons many of you stay motivated to teach each term, we were touched by the depth of your responses. If anything, they remind us that we are all in this together, even if we have different ways of managing stress and rejuvenating our energy.

For those of you striving to reignite that spark, try reaching out to colleagues or friends who can share their own stories and motivation tactics. You may just find another tool to help keep you going.

Join the conversation by letting us know how you stay motivated to teach.

Exequiel (Zeke) Hernandez is the Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He studies how global networks created by human migration and corporate partnerships affect the innovation, internationalization, and performance of organizations. He has won three Emerging Scholar awards and was selected by Poets & Quants as one of the Best 40 Under 40 business professors in the world. He also provides training to executives from leading companies globally.

Lilian Ajayi-Ore is a faculty member at Columbia University and New York University School of Professional Studies. She teaches digital marketing, interactive marketing, and data analytics. She is also a digital marketing strategist and big data analytics executive with over 16 years of industry expertise helping brands and organizations identify key market trends and implement marketing strategies.

Pedro Monagas Asensio is a STEM education professor and research professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain, CRESCA Food Safety and Control Research Center.

Susan Lee is a lecturer at the Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore. She designs and facilitates workshops on English as a medium of instruction, professional communication, job interviews, networking, and internship preparation. Besides communication-related subjects, Lee is currently teaching a Critique and Expression module she developed on film adaptation.

Nellie El Enany   is an assistant professor in the School of Business at The American University in Cairo. El Enany teaches human resource management, entrepreneurship and innovation, international business, and entrepreneurial leadership for solving critical global issues. El Enany’s research interests center on issues of identity, including identity construction, stigma, legitimacy, and identity work.

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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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7 reasons why becoming a teacher might be right for you

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

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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. 

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I Want to Be a Teacher: 10 Essays

Do you want to become a teacher? So do the university and college students who wrote these essays.

Here we share 10 essays from education students who explain their reasons for wanting to become teachers. In each essay, a student discusses the reasons why they want to be a teacher and their motivation for studying towards their education degree.

The essays share similar themes of passion, commitment, and perseverance in pursuing a career in teaching. We hope you find them informative, useful and inspiring!

1. Future Leaders

The first essay discusses the importance of being a difference-maker and inspiring future leaders through a classroom that celebrates individuality and inclusion.

In a society where diversity is often not embraced, I strive to be the change that we need to see. This is why I have chosen to pursue a career in teaching. My goal is to be a role model of compassion and support for every individual in my classroom; to make sure that my students know that they are valued for who they are.

As I begin my journey as a university student, my focus is firmly fixed on my future students. Even though I haven’t met them yet, they inspire me to work hard in my studies and to remain hopeful for what lies ahead. I am determined to create a learning environment that fosters creative thinking and celebrates the unique qualities that each of my students possess.

As a teacher, my aim is to have a positive impact on the next generation, motivating and encouraging them to succeed and pursue their dreams while also making a difference in the world. I believe that teaching the value of inclusivity and the power of kindness will help to shape my students into forward-thinking and well-educated members of society.

Ultimately, I aspire to help create a world where diversity is not only accepted but celebrated, where every individual is valued and appreciated for their unique talents and qualities. Through my role as a teacher, I am confident that I can play a part in making this vision a reality. I’m excited to embark on this journey with my future students.

2. For My Students

Essay number two highlights the student’s personal experience of being inspired by teachers in high school who helped her thrive and how she aims to do the same for her future students, particularly those from low-income schools.

As I reflect on my journey towards becoming a teacher, I realize that my ultimate motivation is not my own success, but the success of my future students. When faced with challenging coursework or long hours of studying, it’s the thought of being a positive influence on their lives that keeps me going.

My high school experience was one of confusion and uncertainty. I know that many other students in similar situations need guidance and support. No child should feel lost or hopeless when it comes to their future. As an educator, it’s my responsibility to help them navigate the path towards success. I understand the struggles of those from low-income backgrounds, and am committed to helping these students achieve more than they thought possible.

I plan to work in a school that faces similar challenges to the one I attended. These schools often lack the resources needed to provide students with the best opportunities. But I aim to be a resource for them. My hope is to be an inspiration to my students, to show them that anything is possible with hard work and determination. I want them to see that kindness and respect can go a long way, and that helping others can be a rewarding experience.

As a teacher, I want to be the one my students remember for the rest of their lives. I want to be the teacher who helped them achieve their goals and encouraged them to strive for more. My personal success will be measured by the success of my students. If even one student decides to pursue higher education or achieve more than they ever thought possible, then I will have achieved my dream. I know that being a teacher will be challenging, but it is the thought of positively influencing the lives of my students that will keep me going.

3. ESL Children

The third essay is about the goal of becoming an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher to help young ESL children succeed in a world where an education in their native language is often unavailable.

I’m a Hispanic young woman working towards my goal of earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Bilingual Education. At times, I definitely have felt a slowing in my motivation. But, every time that happens, I think about my end goal and that gets me moving again.

I recall one middle school class where a boy caught my attention. He remained disengaged and would never participate in class. After interacting with him, I learned that he spoke broken English with a Spanish accent, and that he struggled to understand his teacher’s lessons because they were delivered in English. It was clear that he had given up due to his past experiences.

Thinking about that boy and the struggles he faced inspires me to keep working hard. I am determined to become an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher so that I can make a positive impact on young ESL children and show them that they can succeed in this world. I refuse to let another child believe that they are incapable of learning simply because they do not speak English fluently. Children are the future, and it is my goal to make sure that the future includes all children, regardless of their first language.

I know that pursuing a degree in Bilingual Education will not be easy, but I am ready to put in the work. I believe that being able to communicate with and support non-native English speakers will be an essential part of my role as a teacher. It will be a privilege to help them understand the material and overcome language barriers. In the end, the reward of seeing my students succeed and grow will be more than enough to keep me motivated.

4. Want to Give

Essay 4 expresses a desire to teach English literature and the importance of giving back to others through teaching.

Dreams are not just about our own personal desires and aspirations. They also have the power to inspire and uplift others, and this is something that has always been important to me.

Throughout history, some of the most important and influential people have had a vision for the future that went beyond their own individual success. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a prime example of this. In his famous “I have a Dream” speech, he spoke not just about his own dreams, but about the dreams of a whole community.

A desire to help and inspire others has been a driving force in my life. When I was in college, I was also caring for my disabled mother, who was a religious studies professor. Despite the challenges of being a caregiver and a student at the same time, I was motivated by my desire to teach English literature. My mother’s influence also taught me the importance of diligence and steadfastness in pursuing my goals.

As I graduated from California Baptist University with my degree in English literature, my mother was facing a new challenge: she had been diagnosed with throat cancer. But even in the face of this difficult news, she continued to encourage me to finish my final paper so that I could graduate. With her love and support, as well as my own religious faith, I was able to complete my degree and move forward towards my dream of becoming a teacher.

For me, the idea of giving back is a central part of my dream. I believe that teaching is a way to share what I have learned with others and to inspire them to pursue their own dreams. Life is full of challenges, but by striving towards our goals and dreams, we can make a positive impact on the world around us. This is what motivates me to keep studying and working towards my dream of becoming a teacher.

5. Giving Back

The fifth essay discusses a young woman’s personal experience of being a special education student in primary school and how that has motivated her to become a teacher who can make a difference in the lives of many children.

I believe that my motivation to become a teacher stems from my own experiences as a special education student. As a child, I often felt lost and hopeless in school, but I was lucky to have amazing teachers who helped me succeed. Their support inspired me to want to become a teacher myself so that I could help other students who were struggling.

Whenever I feel unmotivated, I think of the impact that I can have on children’s lives. I think about the children who are struggling in school, just like I did, and I know that I have the power to make a positive difference in their lives. It’s not just about helping them get good grades; it’s about giving them the confidence and support they need to succeed in all aspects of their lives.

I also find motivation in the fact that every child is unique and has their own set of strengths and challenges. As a teacher, I want to create an environment where all students feel seen and heard, and where they can thrive in their own way. I want to help them discover their strengths and build on them, while also providing support and guidance in areas where they may struggle.

In the end, my motivation is not just about me and my own success, but about the success of my future students. I believe that every child deserves a chance to succeed, and I want to be the teacher who helps them achieve their dreams.

6. Good Morning

In Essay 6, the author discusses the flaws they see in the current education system and their desire to become a teacher to create positive change from within.

I completely understand what it feels like to not be considered “naturally intelligent.” I too have never been the kind of person who can easily get good grades without putting in the hard work. But that’s precisely what motivates me to study harder and push myself to be the best I can be.

For me, that motivation comes from my dream of becoming a primary school teacher. I want to be the kind of teacher who can inspire children to pursue their passions and achieve their dreams, just like my teachers did for me. When I see the joy on my siblings’ faces when they understand a new concept, it makes me even more determined to pursue my dream.

Despite the long hours of studying and the sacrifice of my free time, I never lose sight of my end goal. The thought of being able to introduce myself to a new class of students and say, “Good morning class, my name is Ms. Meyers,” makes all the hard work worth it. I know that I can make a real difference in the lives of my students, and that is what keeps me going.

So, even though I may not be a naturally gifted student, I know that with hard work and dedication, I can achieve my dreams and become the kind of teacher I have always wanted to be.

7. Listen to Them

In the 7th essay, the future education explains their childhood dream of becoming a teacher and how they have pursued this dream through their education.

As someone who dreams of becoming a teacher, my motivation stems from the desire to be a positive influence on my students’ lives. Through volunteering with local youth organisations, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with teenagers and to be a role model and advocate for them. These experiences have only served to strengthen my passion for teaching.

One of the most rewarding things is being able to speak with teens about their lives and listen to their experiences. I remember how much it meant to me when I had someone who took the time to listen and provide guidance when I was a student. As a future teacher, I want to be as engaged as possible in my students’ growth and to treat them with the respect and care they deserve.

One of the challenges I’ve noticed when working with some of the students from these organisations is that they come from unique social and economic backgrounds that can make them feel ostracised by their peers. By being aware of their stories and experiences, I believe I can create an inclusive environment that recognises and values the diversity that each student brings to the classroom.

Through my experiences, I’ve learned that it’s not enough to just teach the curriculum; as an educator, I want to make a positive impact on my students’ lives and help them become confident and capable individuals. I believe that by being an attentive listener, providing guidance and support, and embracing diversity, I can help my future students achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

8. Life Coach

In the 8th essay, the author discusses their passion for teaching and how they want to empower young minds to think critically, creatively, and independently.

As I progress in my studies towards becoming a high school teacher, my motivation only grows stronger. Knowing that I have the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of teenagers, who are in the process of shaping their future and the future of generations to come, is a huge responsibility that I don’t take lightly.

When I think about the immense responsibility of being a mentor to my students, it can be overwhelming. But I believe that the potential positive outcomes far outweigh the challenges. For many teenagers, school is a safe haven and I want to be a teacher that my students can look up to and trust. I want to be the teacher that they can confide in and feel comfortable with, knowing that I am there for them, no matter what.

Having had the experience of not always feeling safe and secure at home, I want to be that support system for my students. I want them to know that they can rely on me to be there for them, to listen and to offer guidance. I believe that this will be a long-term effect, as my students will not only find comfort in my class but also find the motivation to continue to strive in their studies and reach their full potential.

Reflecting on my own high school experience, I remember Coach Morgan, who was funny, practical, and nice. He was the kind of teacher that every student trusted, and I want to be that kind of teacher for my students. I want to be the teacher that my students can count on, the one who they can trust and the one who they will always remember as a positive influence in their lives. It is this desire to be that teacher, to make that impact, that drives me to study and work hard to achieve my goal.

9. The Motivator

Essay 9 emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with students to create a positive learning environment and how the future educator wants to do this as a teacher.

As a high school senior, I’m at a turning point in my life where I’m excited about what the future holds for me. After much thought and consideration, I’ve decided to pursue an online teaching degree in Primary Education at university. It’s an opportunity for me to give back to the community and make a positive difference in the lives of young children.

Looking back on my own school experiences, I’ve had the privilege of being taught by some truly inspiring individuals who have helped me discover my passion for teaching. These teachers were not just educators, they were role models who motivated and encouraged me to achieve my goals. Their dedication and love for their work have inspired me to follow in their footsteps.

As a future teacher, my goal is to be just as effective as the teachers who have had a profound impact on my life. I want to make a difference in the lives of my students and inspire them to reach their full potential. In today’s world, children need someone to look up to, to encourage and motivate them, and I want to be that person for them.

Knowing that I can be a positive influence in a child’s life is what motivates me to pursue my dreams. I’m determined to succeed, to be a successful university student, and eventually, a successful teacher. I’m excited about what lies ahead, and I’m ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come my way. My university education is the first step towards a bright future, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

10. Special Needs

In the final essay, the writer describes their deep sense of calling to become a teacher and how they want to use their skills and talents to inspire and make a positive impact on the lives of their students.

I see him walk into the gym. We make eye contact. His arms open and he smiles as big as he can. He makes his way up the challenging steps on the bleachers to get to me. He hugs me harder than anyone else. He doesn’t judge how I look or what I am wearing. He is truly happy to see me for who I am. He has down syndrome and his name is Kellan.

The moment I met Kellan was a defining one in my life. I had always known that I wanted to make a difference in the world, but in that instant, I realized that the difference I wanted to make was for children like Kellan. His pure joy and acceptance of me, without any judgement, was a transformative experience.

My dream is to create a safe and nurturing environment for all of my students, just as Kellan has shown me. I want to create a classroom where my students feel seen, heard, and understood. I believe that by building strong relationships with my students, I can help them to overcome any obstacle they may face.

Kellan’s resilience and determination are an inspiration to me. I want to help all of my students to develop the same level of self-confidence and to see that they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to. I want to help my students to develop a growth mindset, to see that mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow, and to never give up on themselves.

Kellan will always hold a special place in my heart. His warm embrace and genuine happiness have left an indelible mark on my soul. I know that my dream of making a difference in the lives of children is not only achievable but also necessary. I will continue to work hard to become the best educator I can be and make a positive impact in the lives of my future students.

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

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Dream Job — What Inspired You to Become a Teacher

What Inspired You to Become a Teacher

• Categories: Dream Job Teacher

About this sample

Words: 726 |

Updated: 12 December, 2023

Words: 726 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

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Works Cited

• Darling-Hammond, L. (2017). Empowered Educators: How High-Performing Systems Shape Teaching Quality Around the World. Jossey-Bass.
• DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., & Many, T. (2016). Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Solution Tree.
• Erickson, L. (2019). Teaching the Tough Stuff: A Guide to Helping Students Through Experiences That Hurt. ASCD.
• Hattie, J. (2012). Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning. Routledge.
• Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D. J., & Heflebower, T. (2013). The Highly Engaged Classroom. Marzano Research.
• Pianta, R. C., Hamre, B. K., & Allen, J. P. (2012). Teacher-Student Relationships and Engagement: Conceptualizing, Measuring, and Improving the Capacity of Classroom Interactions. Routledge.
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Guilford Press.
• Stronge, J. H. (2018). Qualities of Effective Teachers. ASCD.
• Tomlinson, C. A. (2017). How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms. ASCD.
• Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2018). The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher. Harry K. Wong Publications.

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What Inspired You to Become a Teacher?

This likely won’t come as a surprise to you, but Wellspring’s Quality Education, Early Childhood Education, and Community Involvement trainers were all once teachers themselves! Our incredible team of trainers once led their own class of students, poured into the hearts and minds of the next generation, and learned the imperative role of education for the benefit of their students and their country.

We recently connected with our team of trainers to hear more about their heart for teaching. We’d love to introduce you to three incredible trainers—Samuel, Philomene, and Emmanuel—and learn what inspired them to become teachers.

Samuel Ngendahimana, Community Involvement Trainer

“When I attended primary school, I appreciated the way teachers have been with me. They enlightened me and my classmates and pushed me to do the same for the future generation. I felt very interested in pursuing the career of teaching. As a teacher, I am so happy when I help others discover the world. I loved helping transform others.”

Philomene Nyirabazungu, Early Childhood Education Trainer

“First of all, the impact of teachers on the lives of students inspired me. The best reason to be a teacher was that I wanted to have a positive, inspiring impact on children’s lives. I achieved this by being kind, caring, empathic, passionate, and funny. These are great qualities that I learned in relation to my inspiration. I have developed my love for teaching from the love I received from my former teachers, who showed me compassion, care, and empathy. I grew up considering teaching as the only profession which can change the world, the profession which can change lives and societies. I became a teacher to make amazing impacts in people’s lives. Additionally, I could see teachers’ smiles, and I felt this happiness too, from teaching, playing with children, and everything connected to the teaching profession . What an amazing act—playing, laughing, having fun while learning, and helping others learn? Even since then, nothing amazes me more than developing potential in others .”

Emmanuel Turatsinze, Quality Education Trainer

“Several positive and negative factors have influenced me to become a teacher. On the one hand, I liked the way my teachers in P1 and P5 treated children far differently from others. Both of them were very intelligent, provided us with knowledge, and advised us on being good people by respecting and valuing others. They used to tell us stories that built my personality of humility and support. They would talk and discuss any mistakes or negative behaviour with students. They were good teachers. On the other hand, I have been challenged by how some other teachers treated children; shouting, slapping them for minor reasons that could be corrected without using harsh methods. I grew up with a mind of turning things around, not for vengeance, but another way of treating children in a peaceful way like my teachers of P1 and P5.”

Whether a desire to inspire change on negative teaching practices or to continue in their positive legacy, our trainers were inspired by their teachers! Now, as Wellspring trainers, they pour into the lives of other educators to help them correct outdated methods and provide the best possible education for their students. They walk alongside school leaders, teachers, and parents through training and ongoing support to empower and equip them to play their unique role in supporting the education of their children and community. And all this is done through your generous support!

When you support Wellspring, you support our team of trainers who are the hands of feet of our work. You’re inspiring transformation and professional development for school leaders to serve their staff and students better. You are emboldening Rwanda’s teachers—those who build into the next generation of leaders—to step into their role with the knowledge that they are making a difference for their children and the future of their nation. You’re equipping parents with the tools and skills to support their children in their learning.

Will you support our team of trainers like Samuel, Philomene, and Emmanuel as they partner with school communities to transform their nation’s education system from the inside out? 

Would you like to receive more information about the program?

Have a question? We are here to help.

Select your state to discover your state advisor’s phone number.

Click here.

Our Program Advisors look forward to answering your questions.

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Click here to submit a contact form.

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)

10 Smart Answers to “What Motivates You?”

By Status.net Editorial Team on April 21, 2023 — 9 minutes to read

Why Do They Ask “What Motivates You?”

When an interviewer asks you about your motivation, they want to understand how passionate and committed you are to their company and the job opportunity. They are looking to gauge if you genuinely care about the work and if you will fit well within their team and culture. Your answer should be genuine and specific, highlighting your unique motivators and how they relate to the position you are applying for.

10 Example Answers to “What Motivates You?”

I’m motivated by the opportunity to learn and grow in my career. I’m always looking for ways to challenge myself and expand my skill set, and I find that being in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment helps me do that. I’m also motivated by the chance to collaborate with talented colleagues and contribute to a team effort that produces great results.”

“For me, motivation comes from feeling like I’m making a difference. Whether it’s through providing excellent customer service, creating innovative solutions to problems, or simply being a supportive team member, I find that I’m most energized when I feel like my work is having a positive impact. That’s why I’m drawn to companies that have a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to making a difference in their communities.”

“As someone who is naturally curious and loves to explore new ideas, I’m motivated by the opportunity to innovate and create. Whether it’s developing new products, designing new processes, or finding more efficient ways to do things, I’m always looking for ways to push the envelope and come up with something new and exciting. I find that this kind of work keeps me engaged and inspired.”

“One of the things that motivates me most is the chance to take on new challenges and push myself out of my comfort zone. I thrive on the adrenaline rush that comes with tackling something difficult and succeeding against the odds. Whether it’s taking on a new project, working with a new team, or learning a new skill, I’m always eager to take on new challenges and prove myself.”

“What motivates me is the desire to achieve my goals and fulfill my potential. I’m driven by a sense of ambition and a desire to succeed, and I’m always looking for ways to improve myself and my performance. Whether it’s through setting and achieving personal or professional goals, or simply striving to be the best version of myself, I find that this kind of drive keeps me focused and motivated.”

“I’m motivated by the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world. Whether it’s through my work directly or through the company’s mission, I find that I’m most energized when I feel like I’m contributing to something bigger than myself. I want to be part of an organization that is making a difference and creating a better future for everyone.”

“For me, motivation comes from the chance to develop meaningful relationships with my colleagues and clients. I’m a people person at heart, and I find that working with others who share my values and goals is incredibly fulfilling. I want to be part of a team that is supportive, collaborative, and committed to achieving great things together.”

“I’m motivated by the opportunity to continuously learn and improve. Whether it’s through formal training programs or on-the-job experience, I’m always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and skills. I want to work for a company that values professional development and encourages its employees to grow and evolve over time.”

“As someone who is passionate about innovation and creativity, I’m motivated by the chance to work on projects that are truly groundbreaking. I want to be part of a team that is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and creating solutions that are truly innovative and impactful.”

Example 10:

“For me, motivation comes from the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with achieving a difficult goal. Whether it’s hitting a sales target, completing a complex project, or overcoming a personal challenge, I find that I’m most motivated when I have a clear goal in mind and a plan for achieving it.”

How to Answer “What Motivates You?”

Step 1: identify your motivations.

By identifying your key motivations, you’ll be able to provide a compelling response during your interview.

Personal Values

Reflect on your core beliefs and principles, and consider how they drive your actions and decisions. Here are some common personal values:

• Self-improvement

Think about which ones align with your personality and the role you’re applying for. Describe how these values fuel your motivation and commitment to the job.

Career Goals

Consider the long-term objectives you’re working towards in your professional life. Be specific about your desired achievements and how they relate to the role you’re interviewing for. Some examples of career goals could be:

• Acquiring new technical skills
• Developing leadership skills
• Contributing to a specific industry

Link these goals to the company’s mission, and express how this role will help you grow professionally and contribute to the organization.

Interests and Passions

Identify what you’re genuinely passionate about, both inside and outside of work, and connect these interests to the position you’re applying for. Here are some questions to help you introspect:

• What topics of conversation energize you?
• Which tasks and projects bring out your enthusiasm?

Step 2: Tailor Your Answer to the Job

Try to tailor your response to the specific job you’re applying for. Consider the key responsibilities, company culture, and overall mission of the organization.

Begin by researching the company and its values. This information can typically be found on the company’s website, social media profiles, or through online reviews. Pay special attention to the language used in the job description – it may indicate some of the top skills and values the company is looking for.

Next, reflect on your personal motivations and how they align with the job requirements. Make a list of the aspects of the position that genuinely excite you, and focus on these in your response.

1) Motivator:  Interest in the field

Sample Answer:  “One thing that motivates me is my genuine passion for the industry. I’ve always been fascinated by the way technology impacts our daily lives, and I’m excited to be part of a team that’s shaping its future. I find that this passion drives me to stay focused and committed to my work.”

2) Motivator:  Professional growth

Sample Answer:  “What truly motivates me is the opportunity for personal and professional growth. I enjoy taking on new challenges and expanding my skill set. Knowing that I’m constantly improving and contributing value to the team gives me a great sense of accomplishment.”

3) Motivator:  Helping others

Sample Answer:  “I’ve always been motivated by the desire to help others. In my previous role, I took pride in knowing that my work made a positive impact on my clients’ lives. This not only gave me a sense of fulfillment but also encouraged me to go above and beyond in my tasks.”

Step 3: Include Specific Examples

If applicable, you can provide specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your motivation. By doing so, you give the interviewer a clear and authentic picture of your work ethic and what drives you to succeed.

To begin, think about a time when you were particularly motivated to achieve a goal, finish a project or overcome a challenge. Describe the situation, what motivated you, and the steps you took to reach your objective. Remember to focus on aspects that can be applied universally, such as personal growth or helping others, rather than individual circumstances.

When crafting your answer, use the STAR method:

• Situation : Describe the context or background of the event.
• Task : Explain your responsibility or goal in that situation.
• Action : Detail the steps you took to approach the task or challenge.
• Result : Share the positive outcome of your actions, and how it demonstrates your motivation.

For example, if you’re motivated by helping others, you might say:

“In my previous role as a customer support specialist, I was motivated by finding solutions to customer issues and ensuring they had a positive experience with our company. One day, I encountered a particularly challenging issue that required me to work closely with multiple departments to find a resolution. Seeing the gratitude in the customer’s response when we resolved the issue was incredibly rewarding and further motivated me to work even harder in the future.”

By providing specific examples that showcase your motivation, you’ll demonstrate to the interviewer that you have a genuine passion for your work and a strong drive to excel in your career.

Step 4: Practice Your Response

Practicing your response to the question “What motivates you?” will help you feel more confident during your interview. So, once you’ve identified your motivators and examples, practice articulating your response. You can do this by speaking your answer out loud or writing it down. As you practice, focus on being concise and clear in your explanation. Avoid using filler words, such as “um,” “like,” or “you know.”

Consider practicing with a friend or family member who can provide feedback on your response. They can help you identify areas that need improvement, such as body language, tone, or clarity of your answer. Remember, your goal is to provide a strong, authentic response that showcases your unique motivations and fit for the role.

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Be genuine:  Don’t try to impress the interviewer by simply stating what you think they want to hear. Instead, provide an authentic answer that truly reflects your personal motivations.
• Stay relevant:  Although you should share your genuine motivation, ensure it connects to the job or the company’s goals. This will demonstrate your potential as a valuable employee in the organization.
• Keep it concise:  Though it’s important to provide context for your motivation, avoid long-winded answers that drift off-topic. Stay focused and keep your response brief.

It’s a great idea to prepare a few examples that illustrate your motivation. This will make your response even stronger, and help convey your commitment to the role. For example, let’s suppose your motivation is your desire to contribute to meaningful projects. You might share a story about a time when you initiated or led a project that made a real difference in your previous role. Or you could mention a specific project or initiative at the company you’re interviewing for that excites you.

It’s essential to reflect on your personal motivations and connect them to the job you’re applying for. Consider how your motivations align with the company culture and values.

Tailor your response and try to use specific examples from your professional and personal life to illustrate your points. If you’re unsure what aspects to highlight, think about the desired skills and qualifications mentioned in the job description and how you have demonstrated those in the past. Don’t forget to practice your response before the interview. Good luck!

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