Yes. Actually, every job I’ve ever had, I’ve had times where I’ve wondered if I should quit. There are plenty other careers where you make more money, or have better benefits. And you sometimes have to deal with annoying students, annoying parents, annoying co-teacher, annoying administration. But then every once in awhile something will happen that will cancel out all the negatives. I’m a band director, so instead of having a kid just one year, I deal with them for seven, so I get a stronger relationship with my students. Sometimes you’ll bump into a parent somewhere, and they stop to tell you how much you mean to their son or daughter. Or a student, who you may never have noticed you having an affect on, will give you a Christmas card or something. And in it they’ve written a note saying what an inspiration you have been to them. Or one will come to you and say that because of you, they have decided they want to be a teacher. Either one of these things is enough to make you forget about all of the many negatives there are about teaching.

I am going to begin my 30th year of teaching this fall. After having taught 8 years I thought I was tired of the classroom so I quit and worked in the business world for about a year. I hated every moment of it and discovered it wasn’t the classroom I was tired of but my school district. I got back into the school business the following year. Even now there are days that I wonder how much longer I will be able to put up with the hassle, but the good days outnumber the bad. I take a deep breath try to get a good night sleep to get ready for the next day.

i just finished my 5th year and YES, there were times that I just wanted to quit. Teaching can be a very overwhelming and frustrating career that teachers really need those breaks to “rehabilitate” themselves back to normal. I know that’s the case for me. Teachers who can’t handle the stress and workload usually quit within the first 5 years of teaching because they didn’t realize how different teaching is these days. As for me, I like teaching, but I don’t know if I want to retire as a teacher. I’d like to go into another career down the line, but I never know where my life’s gonna take me.

There were days this past school year that I just wanted to quit and cried on my drive home. Not because of the students, I love them, but because of the administrative support. My principal is a parent pleaser and does not back up his teachers. It’s hard to want to be in a profession when someone lets a bunch of teenagers walk all over you.

I left a high paying job to teach because I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life. I wanted to do something purposeful that made me feel like I accomplished something great at the end of the day. So I keep reminding myself of that and THAT is what keeps me going… the students and I can affect their lives.

So everyday I walk into the classroom with a smile on my face and forget about yesterday. I focus on today.

I get frustrated and look forward to breaks, but I have never wanted to do anything but teach. Luckily, I work with an amazing group of teachers and a supportive administration. I have the best job in the world!

No, well I have only taught for a year now… But I hope that I never get to that because teaching has always been my dream job.