Have you considered teaching? | 06.04.10
From personal experience, I know as well as anyone that picking a major can be difficult – both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. You probably have tons of different interests, feel somewhat unfocused and want to find some direction.
One idea I’d like to pose to you is going to school to be a teacher. If your first reflex is to say, “Oh teachers don’t make any money!”, that urban myth is entirely unfounded in modern times. Just the other evening, I was looking over average salaries for high school teachers in Massachusetts, and there were maybe 2 or 3 schools out of a list of hundreds that had averages below $50,000 annually.
$50,000 per year, average. Even better, keep in mind that high school teachers usually only work 10 months a year… so you even get a built-in vacation to sweeten the deal. The salaries for college professors is undoubtedly even higher, so having advanced degrees can position you for some excellent earning potential.
Of course, there are a lot of soul-searching psychological aspects to teaching as well that should be kept in mind. Being a teacher is a huge responsibility: you’re not only imparting knowledge, but also contributing to the development of other human beings. There are many roles a teacher must play – instructor, mentor, counselor – and you need to be prepared and 100% willing to give it your all.
There also are a lot of financial aid benefits to being a teacher. Did you know that public service can get your federal loans forgiven (as in, any remaining balance is deleted from your account) in 10 years? If you selected a repayment plan like income based repayment, this means your payments will be low and manageable from day one and if you are not delinquent during the 10 years, the rest of your federal loans get canceled. Crazy awesome, if you ask me.
These are just a few of the benefits allotted to public school teachers… by all means, do some research and thinking. If you believe teaching is right for you, there are definitely many rewarding experiences waiting for you.
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not a teaching person….
I've had a lot of experience tutoring/teaching children at the elementary-aged level. Kids are cute and funny, but they're just harder to deal with because they're so young and not well-disciplined. At some point in my life, I would like to teach high school health courses. I am a recent college grad and I am thinking about obtaining a masters degree in public health.
Teaching as a part-time in my church sounds great to me but not as a full career.
eh
Teaching isn't for me. I want to be an art therapist.
Teachers have a huge influence in the shaping of lives– as my teachers throughout my life have shaped mine. I would become a teacher, and am actually considering it.
Teaching is a very rewarding career and teachers have a big impact in the lives of children
Teaching is great but really not for me.
Teachers can help students build their future and they have a lot of influence at every grade level, however, teaching is not for me… but I definitely respect all the motivators/teachers in my life.
i would never be able to teach….especially not children. i applaud everybody that can.
teaching is great but just not for me
when i was younger, i wanted to be a teacher because my role model as a kid was a teacher. but now, as a high school student, i want to get a job that earns me good money and then be a teacher for fun.
I am determined to find a way to teach younger children, even with the financial issues. Hopefully, I will find a job with good benefits and paid vacations.
to obe a teacherit can not be about the money it is a passion for kids and watching tham learn. If your heart is not in it then you should not teach.
teaching has been my one dream for my whole life. ever since i knew what a teacher was and what great role models they were. then when i really understood what i could teach and how i could teach it just made me love it more. i want to teach music!
I was actually going into teaching but even with increase of pay that is not for all states like Florida. Please don't get me wrong but living of an Teacher budget is not easy and benefits aren't either plus the teacher students ratios are going higher and you need to get many of your own supplies. It hard to be an educator and a role model. I have yet to make my mind and see if I change program.
Aw, I would love to be an art teacher if graphic design doesn’t work. Or even, both at the same time. But that’d put my bakery on hold, decisions, decisions. I’ll probably leave the bakery and spread art via children.
Teaching is fun, but it requires a lot of responsibilities
Teaching sounds appealing but i lack the patience one requires
I want to teach music!
Teaching is good only if u have a will just like any other job.
Interesting.
teaching is sumthin i wanted to do after another career. become the best in the field and then pass down my knowledge
I think teaching is cool, but if I teached I would have to substitue teach.
It's sounds like a good carrer through but I would rather be a counselor at a school to keep the students.
Teaching is a very challenging profession to me, I love it because it helps to stimulate your mind and build in you a research and knowledge acquisition attitude.