I remember like it was yesterday. I never wanted to be a teacher in college. I wanted to make a lot of money with a big shot job for some big shot firm. Well, with a math degree, it didn’t quite work out that way. I ended up taking a low-paying job for an internet startup company analyzing website traffic patterns to see if there was a correlation between traffic and subscription rates. There went my plan!
One day out of the blue, an old college friend referred me for a role with Texas Instruments as a regional educational market manager. In this role, I assisted math and science teachers using TI technology and activities in the classroom. Over six years, I successfully climbed the corporate ladder in various roles within TI. However, I came to a standstill when my mentor told me I needed to obtain my MBA if I wanted to move into management. I took her advice, but with three months left in my program, I had an epiphany – I wanted to be a teacher. I couldn’t explain it, and still cannot today. It was my “ah-ha” moment, or life calling. After serving teachers at TI, I felt compelled to join the ranks of changing lives.
So, I left my dream job and bright future to earn my teacher certification, and the rest is history. Over the past 8 ½ years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in the most notable profession in the world. It was the best career decision – CORRECTION: life decision – I ever made!
So, if you’re thinking about teaching, my greatest piece of advice is to know your “why”.
Do you have a strong passion to change lives?
Because that’s what you’ll be doing.
Do you believe parts of the education system are broken, and you are part of the solution somehow?
Because that’s where you will serve.
Do you enjoy learning and reinventing yourself year after year, and sometimes daily?
Because that’s what will happen to you.
Then, research the necessary steps to obtain your credentials and go for it! The hardest part is out of the way.
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