Why I Chose to be an Educator

       When I was younger, I always wanted to be a teacher. My friends and I would play "classroom" and of course I always played the role of the teacher. As a child I loved school and I loved all my teachers. My teachers were absolutely amazing at what they did. They always went above and beyond their duties as a teacher. Not only did they care for my education, but they cared for me as a person and always pushed me to be better in all aspects of my life. I clearly remember wanting to be just like them when I grew up. Even though I knew from the beginning that I wanted to teach, I pushed it away and tried to pursue a new dream that, at the time, seemed better and more rewarding for me. 
      Before I finally accepted that I wanted to be an educator I was a Pre-health Biology major at JSU. My mother is a pharmacist, and I had big plans of following in her footsteps. I dreamed of attending Harrison's School of Pharmacy at Auburn University and eventually all the hard work would be worth it because I was going to be making some big bucks. All was going fine until I started working kids camps and cheer camps for children and it really made me wonder if I was in the right field of study. When I started working with kids, I remembered how my teachers shaped my life and I wanted to be that same kind of supportive, caring figure for someone else. It wasn't until my Sophomore year at JSU that I finally realized I was pursuing this made up dream for all the wrong reasons. I knew I was not going to be happy as a pharmacist, but I really just wanted the six figures that comes with the job and that kind of materialistic thinking is not who I am. Teaching children has always been my passion, but I think I was in a little bit of denial. I was worried about what my family might think of me giving up a profession that makes so much money for just teaching kids all day, but I knew that's exactly what I wanted to do.
       When I finally changed my major to Elementary Education, I knew that I was making the right choice for me. People always ask why I want to be a teacher and usually follow the question with all the reasons I shouldn't be one. My answer to that question is always pretty simple. It just makes me happy. I know I won't make six figures like I would as a pharmacist, but I know for a fact that a classroom of smiling faces with curious minds that are willing to learn is all the reward I will ever need. I get the privilege of being a role model and a friend to so many young kids. I am lucky enough to build a foundation and instill a love for learning for my students, just like my past teachers did for me. Yes, I am a teacher, but I am so much more than that.