Why Teach?

Teaching can be a difficult, underpaid, and time-consuming profession. Yet, why do so many people do it? Beth Lewis' post "Top Seven Reasons To Become A Teacher" offers some basic explanations as to why so many pursue the profession. As she explicitly states in her opening "Teaching is more than just a job. It's a calling. It's an ever-surprising mix of grueling hard work and ecstatic successes, both big and small." For me, the small successes seem much more important than the larger ones. Not every teacher is going to have some miraculous breakthrough with a struggling child, even if we all hope to do so. Instead, the small successes that happen everyday seem to make everything worthwhile. Now, I have never taught children in a classroom setting but I have worked with children before and it is true that there is nothing better than connecting with a child. Specifically, the moment when your instruction finally clicks with your student. But, that is not why I want to teach.
I have always been fascinated with perspective, especially when it comes to literature. Sure, I can dive into scholarly journals that analyze various theories but I always learn more when I interact with people. I want to see things from every angle, discuss opinions with other students, and analyze the work in a cooperative manner. Most adults see things in a solidified context: they have their own world views and they analyze everything through these notions. Children, on the other hand, are oftentimes unaware of the frameworks of their own thinking. They may see things in a simplified manner, but they are able to analyze material in completely unexpected ways. Initially, they ask "What" questions but after proper instruction they start asking "Why" questions. This is essentially why I want to teach. I want to be able to push my students in this direction. I want them to be able to understand the basic guidelines and always take it one step further. The root answer is never interesting or worthwhile; but, when you want to know "Why" and dive deeper you can learn so much. I do not want my students to be drones who memorize material; I want them to have a rudimentary understanding and then analyze it further. We need more thinkers in our society, more people who are willing to question and analyze. Thus, as a future teacher, I hope I am able to properly instruct my students and get them to constantly explore and analyze everything. This, above all else, is why I want to be a teacher.