What Teachers Make

I've been debating myself on my future lately. It always seems like I go in a circle yet somehow it lands back on teaching. I've been "teaching" since I was 17 when I landed a summer program job. I loved every minute spent with those kids whether playing UNO's, going on field trips, making fun of them, teaching them homework or just listening to their stories. As time passes and I drifted away from that environment, I've been thinking about every profession besides being back in the classroom.

Until I listened to this poem.

It is powerful, it reminded me why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place. It reminded what my purpose and focus should be. Strangely, my latest imaginative was going to law school but no I don't think that can make me happy. The sole purpose of me wanting to go to law school was the money. I want to be able to provide for my parents, have them live comfortably because they've been working for all of their lives. And yes, I do want to help the poor out but I would also be taking money from them in return...which contradicts the purpose.

So why do I keep on going back and forth? Maybe I am just scared of the committment that I will make to be in the classroom for however long. Maybe I just need to man up and admit that teaching is what I was meant to do. Time will tell but this Taylor Mali and his poem reminded me why I love it in the first place...