Why did I choose to become a teacher?
Anyone who is a teacher ought to have a passion for learning. Why? Because as a teacher, you are always in the process of learning something new. Sometimes you learn about the subject matter that you are teaching. For instance, you might want to learn about some grammatical rules such as prepositional phrases, or the formation of subjunctive verb tenses. Some people call this the "what" of teaching; it is the content that you are delivering. Other times, you get to learn about the "how" of teaching. This includes the medium for delivering the content, as well as the methodology, philosophy, or theory behind your instructional practices. For instance, we recently had a quick overview on Second Language Acquisition theory. Or, you might learn how to create and utilize effective, authentic assessment in your classroom.
Anyone who wants to be a teacher should posess a special love for kids, teens, adults, whoever your students may be. This is essential because sometimes learning isn't so pretty. But sometimes we have to make mistakes to grow. And special love that comes from the heart just doesn't give up when the going gets tough. I became to teacher because I love to see, and also to be a part of students growing and learning.
The teacher can become the spark of hope for the student, and the student can become of the spark of hope for the teacher. On one hand, the students may have no big brother, no role model, no mentor, and the instructor becomes something similar to a father in their life. On the other hand, the teacher may hold a firm hope in the up-and-coming generations of learners. Those students are indeed blessed whose instructor has an unshakeable optimism in the present success and in the future accomplishments of his students; he will draw out the qualities of character which might have never before appeared. These very qualities of character are what would give so much hope to the teacher. Of course, cognitive growth and academic advancement are highly important, but to see a young learner developing marks of character such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, perseverance, humility, and self-control can bring the teacher's conscience to ease; with such a strong ethical undercurrent, life's impossibilities would disappear.
The process of learning is what intrigues me so much. It's the adventure of learning about different cultures, different languages, and different lands. It's always a new exploration. Once you step into the classroom, you are left to discover your students' personalities, interests, attitudes, and build upon the discoveries you have just made.