After college in the late 1960’s, I took a job with a defense contractor to avoid the Vietnam draft. The job was abysmally boring, so I decided to go back to school and get an advanced degree so I could do something else. In order to pay for it, I accepted a teaching assistantship at the university. I had to teach labs for 12 hours per week at near-starvation wages. The funny thing is, though, I found I liked teaching. When I got my doctorate, I took a position as a professor at a university and taught for years. I’m retired now, but I still teach part-time, and write books, and try to help out young people on this site.

I’m not a teacher yet, but I’m in university to become one so I think I can answer this question 🙂

I want to become a teacher because I want to be able to do something that appeals to me. I thought for a while I’d go into the sciences, but when I became bored by it I knew I needed a change. I enjoyed my social sciences courses much more. I decided that, by becoming a teacher, I would be able to teach the subjects I enjoyed and would hope that I could get my students as passionate about the subject as I am. As nerdy as it sounds, I’ve always loved school, so I know I’ll enjoy my place of work!

Just a few thoughts …

It was not so much a matter of deciding to – there was never anything else that I considered. When I was in grade school – many years ago – there were no substitute teachers if a teacher was sick. After about seventh grade they would come and get me if one of the teachers for the younger students was sick and I took care of the class for the day. Of course, that couldn’t happen today. I have always loved learning, and I have discovered that you learn a great deal yourself when you teach others, so that may have been part of it. I also enjoy seeing other people learn, watching the change that takes place as people mature and grow in their learning.

Its undoubtedly the most honorable profession in the world.

The job satisfaction you derive from this is instant and invaluable. You never feel like growing old as you deal with young minds all through your years. Its a new day everyday with new challenges new concepts and new ideas and new set of tender minds that are to be molded by you for good.

After trying various jobs I finally understood that teaching is my career and am teaching higher secondary students for the past 19 years. My physical age may be 40+ but I never felt more than 17 at any part of my teaching life.

after I got bored with my job in veterinary medicine. I thought teaching would provide the challenges I was looking for. I was right.

I really enjoy helping others and helping our community. And with that, I became a teacher and I’ve been happy ever since!

I teach part-time now, in addition to my work. I decided to do it to help kids advance, so that they can see real-world applications to their studies