Before you read ahead, please note that all views expressed here under, are not directed towards any individual. These are my perceptions that have been created through my personal experiences.
This is a question that has popped up in my mind every time I came across someone who is willing to give tuition or is trying to apply for a teacher’s post in a school. Should you be a teacher?
The answer to this question helps me decide if I should guide them or not.
As expected, people get offended when I tell someone, who I think is not cut out to be a teacher. They ask me, “Why? Teaching is the easiest job in the world and anyone can do it easily.” And few have even gone to the extent of saying, “If someone can not find any work, they become a teacher, so what makes teaching so special?”
Teachers, all over the world, know otherwise. Teaching is not only hard and tiring, it is, in some cases, also thankless and highly unappreciated.
What makes teaching such a noble profession is the fact that the teacher does not only educate but also guides and inspires the students to become an essential pillar or at least a viable element of the society. Once bonded, a student becomes an integral part of a teacher’s life, who can never be forgotten. No matter how old you have grown or how far you have gone in your life, your teacher will always remember you. (Unless they are suffering from a memory loss)
Since I was a troubled student in my early school years, I was able to connect better with my students during my teaching career. I was able to understand the problems my students faced who were unable to communicate it effectively thus, helped them accordingly. What made me so sincere towards this profession was the fact that my own school teachers made tremendous efforts to help me become an acceptable individual in the society. If it had not been for them, my life would not have been very successful. I drew my motivation from this fact and took it upon myself to go beyond the limits to help my students.
Unlike most other professions, teaching is the closest one to parenthood. A teacher not just sacrifices time but also mental peace and physical health. Always thinking of new ways to teach and new ideas to make lectures interesting but in the end, very few are recognized or appreciated for their efforts. Surprisingly, this does not stop a teacher from working towards ensuring the success of the students, because like a parent, a teacher’s efforts are not directed towards rewards or recognition but towards the success of the students. Apart from our loved ones, teachers are the only people who will cherish our success in life.
Teachers are responsible for the future of the next generation. This is not a profession for the weak, irresponsible or unconcerned, who are in it just for the money. This profession will test your limits, put you to your wit’s end and turn you into an exhausted, sleep-deprived but a morally satisfied individual. I love this profession and have worked with sheer determination, diligence and persistence because in return I have always received tremendous love from students, guidance from parents and most importantly respect but you should take a moment and ask yourself,
SHOULD YOU BE A TEACHER?