Teaching

Teaching...that is the career that I have chosen for myself. From a very young age I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I may have wanted to do other things as I got older but in the end the younger version of myself knew what I was suppose to do with my life.
I have learned a lot this semester but I believe that today I learned one of the most valuable lessons and one of the most important things that I could learn. It was my last day of working with my cute and wonderful third graders today. I took a moment to look at them and enjoy the sight of them in the classroom. I reflected on the weeks that I have spent with them. Even though I have only spent about 24 days with them, with each day only a couple hours. I have developed a love for these hyper and enthusiastic eight and nine year olds I didn't think I could have. I thought about when I was first teaching, those first few weeks were really hard. I didn't think I knew what was I was doing, and I seriously questioned why I was teaching. I was starting to wonder if I had picked the right major for me. But as my wise mom always and continues to tell me "You can do this. Don't give up. You are doing the right thing. Just keep working hard." So that's what I did and because I followed her counsel I was able to develop a love for these children.
As my mentor teacher handed me and other girl I teach with posters signed by all of the kids telling us Thank You and how much they would miss us and as a few of the students came and gave us notes and drawings I knew that all the stress, the tears, and the frustration was worth it. I felt so loved by these students that I only spent a fraction of time with. I also found that teachers probably have one of the largest hearts. They teach and influence so many lives, and they love each of their students individually. It honestly blows my mind how much a teacher does.
In the end this was my conclusion. Teaching is the hardest and most exhausting thing I have ever done in my life but it is the most fulfilling thing!
Teachers may not be paid much in the money aspect but we certainly are paid more in greater ways than money.
I am going to really miss my cute little third graders and my mentor teacher, but each individual has certainly blessed my life in many ways that I don't think they will ever know. It is because of this experience and because of them that I know I can teach and that I can keep doing what I'm doing. They are the reason I teach.