So You Wanna be a teacher?

Did you know that 25% of California new teachers leave the profession? Frankly, I'm surprised it isn't more. I know what you're thinking: the damn disrespectful youth are driving 'em out of the career by the truck load. Nope. Not a chance. I teach fourteen-year-olds through eighteen. I love them all, but for different reasons. The frosh possess an innocence (yes, it still does exist) and excitement for learning. Sure, they have their bad days (don't we all), but they have a sparkle in their eye still, and they still love my stupid jokes. The older ones, more wiser, favor a dryer sense of humor, and perhaps one leaning toward sarcasm (their old age has made them more cynical, I suppose). But they still make me laugh. They challenge me, make me a better teacher, insist that I be a human. I wouldn't trade them in, I know that they are smart when they want to be, I give them slack when they deserve it, and support when they need it. So do you want to be a teacher? It takes more than a love of the written word. More than fascination with the unknown. It's beyond the most difficult formula. It's about loving what you do. Loving kids. Enjoying their successes. Sharing in their dismay. Being able to admit when you are wrong. Knowing that what you do makes a difference. Confident in yourself that making an enemy out of love is okay. So you wanna be a teacher? I can tell by the first answer from your mouth, in the way you look at my class, from the questions that are asked, to your intrigue of the unknown teen. Nah...you don't belong in my world, but join the 25%...and I'm glad that you're there.