InClass

One teacher answers why she chose to become a teacher.

Throughout the course of your teaching career, you will be asked why you chose to become a teacher. After 10 years in the classroom, this is my favorite question to answer. Far too often, the news portrays education as a bleak landscape. What our community hears or reads in the paper is far different than what is truly happening in schools. I see this question as an opportunity to shift the focus of the conversation.

Why did I choose to become a teacher? The real question you should ask me is this: How could I not want to be a teacher?

I chose to become a teacher because I am passionate about our future. I want a world that is better than today — one where we have leaders who are compassionate and driven to innovation. Our children are learning in a world with more technology, more knowledge, and more access to information than ever before. I am dedicated to teaching my students how to use that technology, how to be a self-advocate, how to think critically, and how to solve problems. While I may spend one year of my life with them, the impact I have on them today could potentially shape our future.

I chose to become a teacher because I recognize that there are children who need different types of adults to support them. Every adjective in the world could correspond to a different child (and realistically, we could probably create a few new words!). As a teacher, I have the opportunity to be there for 150 children who have different educational needs, different socio-economic backgrounds, and unique stories to tell. Having different kinds of teachers helps students from all walks of life find a place to call home at their school.

However, if we are really going to be honest, I chose to become a teacher because it is the best job in the world. There is no other occupation that gives you the ability to be part of the community the way teaching does. There is no other career field that enriches your life with so many cultures and traditions. There is no other job on the planet that offers the creativity, the pride, the experience that teaching does. I get to meet the leaders of tomorrow, and I get to work with them daily.

How fortunate am I? I would say that I’m pretty lucky, and it is all because I chose to become a teacher.

Ashley Butler has a master’s degree in secondary education, and has been teaching high school for eight years. The English language arts teacher has worked with special education students, gifted students, and sponsored various clubs.