Teaching is widely considered a noble career or vocation because of the role teachers play in shaping lives. Being a teacher is indeed accompanied by many privileges; however, an objective analysis of the career also entails anticipating difficulties that may be encountered. Some of the rewards I will have as a teacher include the opportunity to make an impact on student’s lives, an engaging working environment, and personal growth, while some of the challenges I will face include long working hours, a bureaucratic education system, and personalization of teaching efforts.
Perhaps the biggest reward I will get from teaching is the opportunity to impact lives. Many people are greatly influenced by the educators they encounter across different levels of school (Ryan et al., 2016). Firstly, some individuals choose certain career paths because of the encouragement they received from their high school teachers. Secondly, other people learn to believe in themselves because their tutors believe in them at some point. I plan to be a teacher who students can approach. It will be rewarding to be someone my students can rely on for encouragement or motivation.
Another reward I will experience as a teacher is due to the non-monotonous nature of the task. There are many teaching strategies that an educator can adopt (Ryan et al., 2016). For instance, a teacher can pair students to prepare presentations on a given topic or split students into groups to take opposing sides in a debate. There is no fixed or right way to teach a class, provided the learning objectives are met. I would thrive in such an environment because I enjoy finding new ways of doing the same thing. Besides, I would have the chance to interact with people from different backgrounds daily. Teaching is rewarding because it is exciting and engaging, especially compared to other careers that entail staring at screens the entire day.
As a teacher, I will also be rewarded with personal growth. Many people think that teachers only watch students grow. In reality, teaching also provides educators an opportunity for learning (Ryan et al., 2016). I am sure that I will learn many things about myself in the process. I will also become a better version of myself to provide students with the kind of teacher they deserve. For instance, this will entail unlearning bad habits and undesirable traits. Being a teacher requires the enthusiasm to be a lifelong learner and a commitment to individual development, contributing to a rewarding experience.
Despite these promising rewards, teaching also has its downsides, which could be challenging to an individual. One difficulty I may face as a teacher is long working hours. Extended periods of time go into lesson preparation because teachers cannot just show up to class (Ryan et al., 2016). Additionally, instructors have to dedicate time to grading papers and assessing students. I want to be a good teacher, so I will commit many hours to these activities. I think my career will take up most of my time, and I fear this will negatively impact my work-life balance.
Another challenge pertains to the frustrations that are inherent in teaching. The education system does not always prioritize students, which can be exasperating for both learners and educators. For instance, many students reported feeling burnt out due to the pandemic (Rao & Rao, 2021). However, the system did not make any accommodations for them, forcing teachers to continue as if everything was normal. Besides, I will also have to adapt to the numerous changes constantly experienced in the education system. For example, some states, such as Texas, restrict what teachers can and cannot discuss in class (Ramirez, 2022). It is aggravating to know that I will always have to abide by rules set by bureaucracies, even if these rules do not optimize the learning experience.
Lastly, I anticipate that teaching diverse students will be challenging. Different learners prefer distinct instructional methods, and a strategy that is successful for one student could be useless to another. As a teacher, I will have to tailor my teaching efforts to the needs of individual students (Ryan et al., 2016). This can be mentally and emotionally tasking, depending on the class size. Additionally, I will make accommodations for students with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism, which requires further customization of my teaching efforts. Teaching is a challenging endeavor because learning is not a one-size-fits-all experience.
In conclusion, being a teacher has its upsides and downsides. On one hand, teaching is a gratifying undertaking because it allows one to mold young minds and touch lives. It is also an exciting experience that challenges a person to grow. On the other hand, teachers work long hours, some of which go unnoticed by stakeholders in the education sector. Additionally, teaching can be frustrating, where rigid rules are imposed on instructors, students, or the learning process itself. However, I believe the pros overshadow the possible cons, provided that a person is passionate about being an educator.
References
Ramirez, F. (2022). How Texas’ school censorship law is impacting classrooms. Texas Signal. Web.
Rao, M. E., & Rao, D. M. (2021). The mental health of high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Education, 6(719539). Web.
Ryan, K., Cooper, J. M., Bolick, C. M., & Callahan, C. (2016). Those who can, teach (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.