Why I Chose Teaching As My Profession

I remember when I was in kindergarten and they asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up and I said, ‘‘A ballerina''. It's funny to think about it but there was something about those dancers that excited me. Then I started growing and I loved reading, writing and singing to Disney sing-a-longs. I treasured school and was always eager to go. I remember going a lot to libraries and I loved taking books home. Then the question came up again, ‘‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’’ and I said that I wanted to be a librarian; working with books seemed like fun. I remember I loved playing pretend and acting in my school plays. One of my aunts is a teacher and in her free periods I would pretend I was a teacher so I guess that was my first ‘‘teaching experience.’’

I always had a love for books and reading. I remember that I would say ‘‘I’m Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and she’s just like me because she loves to read.’’ I also loved writing. I even remember how often I use to write short stories that now I laugh at; they were ridiculous (I still have them, deeply hidden in my room). Then in 6^th grade they asked us the same question of what we wanted to be when we were older. This time I said that I wanted to be a writer. I remember that for our little 6^th grade graduation they even brought a Puerto Rican writer and I was so excited to meet her.

Then I went on to middle school and I use to have a black notebook where I would write many poems in Spanish. They were cheesy love poems but my friends would read them and really enjoy them. I use to write a lot more when I was younger. I would write when I was sad, happy or angry. Writing really helped me express myself. I remember just sitting outside staring at the mountains (because I loved the view from my house) writing poems.

Then as I grew more, I realized I wasn’t completely sure of what I wanted to be. I always loved English and Spanish classes and I excelled in those the most however, I still had doubts. In high school, (12^th grade) the time had come to decide once in for all what I wanted to be for the rest of my life; such a strong and life-changing question. Something so important, that takes so much time to decide, was supposed to be deciphered in a few months for university applications. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be but I remember teaching went through my mind but I ignored it Then I thought how I liked helping others, (especially my friends) and that’s when I said that I would most likely want to be a Social Worker. However, one thing was on my mind, if I were to be a social worker it could only be the ones that work in schools; not sure why but it’s what I wanted (I was scholarly obsessed).

My first year at the University I excelled in English and I remember a professor telling me ‘‘you should be part of the English department and become a teacher because you’re good’’, I thought about it and then said nah, that’s not for me ( I think that was another calling). Little by little I took in consideration being an English teacher. I had read an essay on education by Paulo Freire and others. I started to get inspired. Then one day, out of the blue, I just decided I would be a teacher; period. I thought of it all; being with kids and helping them learn while learning from them. I realized it was what I wanted to be. I don’t know what got in my head but it was as if it all clicked.

I told my parents and my mother said that it ran in the family because many of my aunts are teachers. My boyfriend told me that I would be great for it because I love children. I realized how I couldn’t be a social worker, I couldn’t see myself stuck in an office all day filling in papers and counseling students sometimes. It all made sense, and I remember I started jotting down ideas of how I wanted to create my lessons. I realized that my childhood and the wonderful school I attended played an important role in my career decision making. Every little decision or path I took help determined who I am, what I’m doing and why I wouldn’t change it for anything.

There came a moment where I really felt that this is what I was meant to be. When I first met my classmates of the English BA I saw how many things we had in common and how our main goal is to shape great students for the future. I realized how we all had similar interests that will come hand in hand when teaching. I may not be a professional actor, dancer, counselor, writer, librarian or singer but I get to be all of that and more in the classroom. I also get to be a parent because a teacher isn’t merely someone who teaches a subject to a student. A teacher is a role model that’s teaching a human being. As a teacher I have the power to help shape the future and inspire human beings (what’s greater than that?). This is why I chose to be a teacher because I know teaching is one of the best professions out there (just to not say it’s the best of them all).