Why I want to be a Teacher

By: Brenden G. Lloyd

EDFD 2020 Foundations of Education

Jeff Jones

October 21, 2015

 Teaching has been a part of worldwide culture for a very long time. People have always been

teaching one another, either formally or informally, everyone has received some form of education.

Although teaching has become a much more formal, and structured event, its roots remain the same.

Teachers can come in all shapes and sizes, personalities are what make the learning and growth of

children very special. Although today, older teens do not particularly enjoy school, many teachers have

found ways to connect to these older students. They have created bonds that run on a deeper level than

just teacher and student. They have become role models, big brothers, and close like family. Education

has moved beyond the classroom, building character and aiding students in stepping into their life and

what they want to do. By making the future generations stronger, and more intelligent, teachers have

become the building blocks for the society that we live in today.

I have grown up around teaching for my whole life. Not only did I attend public school, but my

mother is a teacher by profession. Growing up, my mother was always a stickler when it came to

education. Good grades and good behavior while at school was a big deal. Not just going to school

because I had to, but because school was what would lead me someday into my career. College, and

getting a degree is the top priority in my family. You cant support a family on a minimum wage job. I

hadnt always wanted to be a teacher. Like many kids, I wanted to be an astronaut, a cowboy, and even

a whale trainer, following a trip to sea world in San Diego. It wasnt until my senior year of high school

that I found a sense of place when thinking of teaching. The one thing that finally set the cogs in motion

in my head for teaching was my mother receiving her National Boards. Watching her work for months,

weeks, and hours, to gain this teaching title was not only inspiring, but made me want that type of

honor. Hearing how other teachers refer to my mother, and her teaching abilities, made me feel a sense

of pride for her. I wanted what she had, to teach people, and see them grow as a student. Not just while

they are in school, but receiving letters years later that tell a story of how her teaching, and the person

she was to the student at the time that changed the course of their life forever. Having such an impact
on people, and having them say, You made me who I am today is very empowering. Touching

students lives on deeper level than just education is what I seek as a teacher.

My personality, and leadership traits I believe will help me as a teacher. Leadership is a trait that

I have always possessed. In sports I have always been a captain, leading my peers in whatever that

particular sport requires. Leading in a classroom is a key trait that a teacher must possess to maintain

control over their classroom. Not just to straighten students out, but to act as a role model for other

future leaders. Showing students what it takes to lead a group of young people is a must. The downfall

of my personality is my patients. In the modern society we live in today, I believe respect runs very

shallow. I have zero tolerance for a lack of respect, and as I said before, this modern society is lacking

respect. I will need to work on my tolerance, and by increasing my tolerance, I feel like this will truly aid

in my strength as a teacher.

As I work toward becoming a teacher, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards must be accounted for. The

one intrinsic reward that I have already touched on, is possibly changing the course of someones life.

Perhaps it is a student that has a very broken home life, or a student who is more of an outlier in his

class. Taking these students under my wing and acting as a sort of big brother is my goal. By doing this,

I would be not only rewarding the student with a friendship, but also rewarding myself by knowing that I

truly touched a student, when no one else could. Making their life better from something that I did

would be the ultimate reward. As far as extrinsic rewards go, I would most defiantly attempt to get my

National Boards, just as my mother did. I believe that having this award as a teacher is a great honor,

and will strive to claim this title in my teaching career. I will then attempt a master and hopefully, a

doctorate. I consider both of these titles as big a reward as any. Hopefully the end of my career in

education will be me as an administrator, whether it be a principal, vice principal or a superintendent.

 In closing, I would just like to say that teaching for me would be what a sport to a professional

athlete is. Waking up every day fighting for your passion and becoming the best at what you do.

Mastering education, and moving up the latter is the goal. Helping as many students along the way of

course, but pushing myself to the highest ranking and standard as an educator. Connecting with

students on a more personal level, and creating bonds that will effect these students for years into their

own lives. This is why I strive to become a teacher.