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| Reading aloud to a 3rd grade class at my alma mater elementary school. |
Having been a part of the “real world” for nearly a full year now since completing my undergraduate studies last May, I have had ample time to consider why I find the profession of teaching so intriguing. Many of my friends chuckle when they picture me in the classroom and ask why I opted to not put my political science studies to good use and pursue a career in politics. While I may physically tower above my students in most situations, which is worth a hearty laugh, I feel that dedicating my efforts to the realm of education will yield results that are concrete in nature than any job in the political sphere.
Now you are probably thinking, “Yea right! Politicians do far more in a single day than teachers do in a full year!” This is correct in some ways—politicians essentially operate the complex machine that keeps our government running. However, I ask the following questions in response to your statement. How did our politicians get to where they are today? How did they learn the skills that are required to read and write legislature? Where did they gain invaluable experience in regards to interacting with their peers around the lunch table? Who taught them what it means to be passionate about something?
These are all fundamental skills that even the most accomplished and prestigious politicians learned from their teachers when they were in school. Thus, in response to my classmates who questioned my professional decision, I propose the following idea—teaching is the most fundamental profession and provides the necessary foundation for every other profession. This astonishing impact, in addition to my sincere desire to work with students in a meaningful way, are the two main reasons why I wish to devote my professional efforts to guiding the growth and development of the next generation of great minds.
