Crystal's RANT!!!

[Pensee]

GRRR!!!! :redhotmad

Okay, here goes.

I'm sick and tired of people from family to people I barely know trying to convince me not to be a teacher. Nicole, I don't know if you go through the same thing, but it's constant in my life. People are always giving me their 2 cents on reasons why I shouldn't be a teacher.

For instance...

My aunt that I barely see. First time I talked to her since last Christmas. Within 5 min. of our conversation,
what are you going for? elementary education.
To be a teacher? yeah.
What is it with this family and teachers? Don't you want to make money? You want to be poor your whole life? You got it, that's it. I want to be poor.

Then there's the people I casually meet. It comes up that I'm in school, going to be a teacher. There's ALWAYS the condescending comments of: I don't know how you can handle it. I know so and so, who is a teacher and he/she says that it's just awful, is ready to quit, blah blah blah. Well, good luck. You're gonna need it.

Of course, in the back of my mind, there's always my dad. He stopped bugging me about it a few years ago when I finally told him, "Look, I'm going to be a teacher whether you like it or not. If you want to be a geologist, go back to school, but don't try to force me to live your life. 'Cuz it's not gonna happen." But I know he is disappointed that I'm "wasting" my education/brains.

My mom's real feelings came about it came out a few months ago. When I told her how many hours I need to graduate, she said and I quote "Just to be a teacher?". Gee thanks, mom. I know she didn't mean to hurt my feelings, but I get this all the time from everyone.

You would think people in their 40's and 50's would have already figured out that there's more to life than a big paycheck. You teach because you love it, not for the money. I could spend my tuition on ANYTHING. I could fulfill my dad's dream of me being a geologist or a number of other fields in which I could make a lot more money. But that's not for me. I'd rather make less money and be happy than to make more money and dread going to work everyday. My motto in majoring in elementary ed. is "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." Teaching really is my passion. I absolutely love it. Many people live their whole lives and don't find their passion. I consider myself one of the lucky ones even if others don't see it that way.

And to those who do think I'm wasting my life: :p on you.

Sorry, had to get it off my chest.

On a lighter note, I AM OFFICIALLY A SENIOR! WOHOOOO!

[Nicole]

yeah..I got that a lot...not really from my family - but from other people..


you want to teach high school?

yeah

are you insane?

i don't think so


or my favorite...


you are an A student..you can't teach! you should do something that makes lots of money!

why?



However..even more than people not liking my teaching choice...I get annoyed with what people say when I tell them what I really want to do - just a wife and mom! They go crazy with that one! Then I go on to say I never wanted to go to college - and I could care less if I never earn a dollar in my life or have any type of formal education - and you would think I committed some big crime. There was a time when I was seriously considering not going to college this year - and I got so sick of people telling me that I HAD to go to college or I would regret it.


whatever..I try not to let them get to me.



If it makes you feel better Crys - I think your career choice is EXCELLENT! :D *hugs*


and congrats on being a senior!!! :biggrin: I'm...a....freshman

[Breni Sue]

Crystal, I think you should be commended for standing your ground and following your dreams. Not everyone gets that chance, and your family ought to at least respect that.

I really do not understand why - besides the money - they would be so against you being a teacher. Somebody has to do it right? And if everyone took the attitude that they are taking, there would be no teachers at all, our children would get no education and our entire world system would eventually crumble. Sometimes it is not just about the money, it is about making a difference in someone's life. I hear so many teachers say that that is the biggest reward of teaching. Not the money, not the fringe benefits. The reward of knowing that you had an impact on a child's future and touched their lives in a positive way.

I am with Nicole, I think you have made a wonderful choice. And I know it is hard to do, but try to not let them discuorage you, 'K? :)

[daisyflr99]

See, I have the exact OPPOSITE problem! lol...My parents are both teachers and so its' like it "runs in my family" or something. EVERYONE tells me I should be a teacher like my parents, but since I grew up with teachers, I know that I most DEFINITELY do NOT want to be a teacher! (OH! I'm not dissing teachers! lol..I think it's GREAT that ya'll want to be teachers and I say GO FOR IT!!! Don't listen to people who tell you not to!) But I know that I'm most certainly not going to be one. And I get tired of people always telling me I SHOULD! hehe..guess we have the exact opposite problem! Anyways, just felt like saying that :) Good luck with your teaching goals! I hope you get to do it and are completely successful! (And I'm sure you will be if that is what makes you happy :) ) Have a merry Christmas!

Daisy/Robin

[yaimulkes]

You see, my friends, I think that it's an issue of expectation....if you constantly build everyone's expectations of you, then they will never be satisfied with where you land. My history is a perfect example of expectations in action:

When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a professional viking, or possibly a fireman.

When I was in middle school, I wanted to be a Marine, which my family assumed was residue from the whole professional viking thing.

When I was in high school, I wanted to be a hermit, but began to reminisce about pillaging....

In college I decided to study to be a high school English teacher. Or a fireman. I haven't decided which. But when everyone found out that my prospective career path did not include murdering and pillaging, they were all ecstatic.

So you see, it was better off in the end that I didn't say "I wanna be a nuclear physicist and a defensive back for the Rams on the weekends" when I was five, because then maybe everyone would have expected me to amount to something when I got out of school! As it is, they'll be happy if I don't end up in jail or some frosty Northern European country.

So keep those expectations low....do you remember those old commercials from the '80s? Keep telling 'em, "I wanna be a junkie when I grow up!" Then teaching elementary ed will be a triumph!

[Nicole]

:rofl:

[JessLynn]

I can sympathize with you, I thought for a while I would be a youth pastors wife, so I was planning on going to Bible college for youth ministries so I would be qualified to help my husband and still be productive and go through college. My whole family bothered me about it till I added going to English Education to the pile. My family is fine with that, but I come acrossed a lot of "f you want to make money dont' do that" so I never try to tell them what I really want to do, be a mom (wow some of us are way to simliar haha) I would be content to stay at home and do "mom things" while still doing so much else that I'm not paid to do, become a leader of a church group called Missionettes in my denomination, volunteer in the nursery, volunteer all over town, and raise my children, you want to be a good person and everyone else just wants you to be greedy. So to make a long post longer, I UNDERSTAND TOO! lol

Love in Christ
-Jess

[Nicole]

Originally posted by JessLynn
I would be content to stay at home and do "mom things" while still doing so much else that I'm not paid to do, become a leader of a church group called Missionettes in my denomination, volunteer in the nursery, volunteer all over town, and raise my children,


ahhh...sounds like the best job in the world! :D


'cept..we don't have Missionettes..but it sounds like a mission program..and we have those too that I would love to be involved in!

[Pensee]

Thanks you guys for all the support! Ya'll are so schweet!

Robin--I beg you to not "give in" to your family. If you don't love it, don't do it. The kids will know you don't want to be there and you'll be miserable. So that's my advice!

Believe me, Kyrie, NO ONE will get me to give teaching up. I just want to get in that classroom. Did I ever tell you guys about how I "decided" to be a teacher? It's actually a neat story.

Most of you know that I seem to have strayed from Christianity presently, but this was back before then, when I was in what I considered a true relationship with God.

I was in high school at the time. One night I really felt in my spirit that God told me that I was to be a teacher. I was excited about it because teaching was something I always thought I would like to do. So I proudly told my dad & step-mom. Well, you can imagine their reaction from my first post. They were, to say the least, opposed to it. They (especially my dad) kept on me day after day about doing something else to make more money. I know my dad has good intentions. He's worked hard all his life and he doesn't want me to have to do the same. But that didn't make it any easier. They would show me reports of how much more money I could make doing something else. They constantly tried to talk me out of it. Finally, I conceded. Remember I'm still in high school at this point, so my grades here aren't too pivotal. I've always been an A student if I try, B if I don't try. When I decided within myself to go into another profession, my grades suddenly dropped. For the first time in my life, I was struggling to pass. I was studying hours upon hours and barely passing.

At the time, I thought that was God's way of telling me that I WILL be a teacher whether I like it or not, because if I'm not in accordance with His will for my life, I will fall flat on my face. So I repented and said, "OK, God. I WILL be a teacher." My grades went back up. I didn't have to study nearly as hard as I was before and I was back to making A's. In fact, I still managed to graduate 9th in my class even after that horrible semester.

So I graduate, enroll in college, major in elementary education. My family is still on my back day & night about doing something else to make more money. Then I got a job at the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO). I was working with all of these scientists who make a lot of money, go on trips all over the world, get paid leave, benefits, the whole works. It started looking really good. Plus, the never-ending thorn in my side (my family). So again, in my mind I decided to switch majors although I never did it officially. This was early on in my education, so I was taking the basics (nothing specialized) at the time. The EXACT same thing happened. My grades suddenly dropped. I had to study endlessly and still didn't understand the material. I tried to get extra help, but it was to no avail. I just couldn't do it. So, once more--this time like a dog with a tail between my legs--I repented. I promised to never let my family or even the almighty dollar sway me again. My grades went back up and I haven't struggled since.

And ya know what? Majoring in education is the best thing I could have done. I LOVE IT! The further along I get, the more excited I get. Before classes begin, I (being the big nerd that I am) read the course descriptions and get so excited just anticipating learning more about the field and working with kids and all that good stuff. I absolutely love it. There is nothing in this world that could make me give up my dream. I'm too determined. I WILL be a teacher! :biggrin:

[Flannel Avenger]

It is good that you know what to do.

It is bad that you aren't in North Carolina, so that should I ever find my female counterpart the children shall not have you as a teacher :D

[Bohrdumb]

I commend anyone who has to courage to be a teacher!

I started out as a Sec Ed English major because I love english and I love kids, but I quickly found out the education thing wasn't for me.

My family has a load of teachers and so they're a bit dissapointed to hear my change but I found I love kids, but teaching them is a whole different story.

Teaching is not about money. It's about that little fuzzy feeling you get inside when one of the kids says something profound and you realize that they really did get what you were saying after all.

I remember one summer I was helping a girl learn to read. She was in 3rd grade and should have known but she never really got it and the next summer she came back and was reading stuff aloud. It was awesome.

Stick to your guns and do what you love. And if they complain about you not making money, tell 'em you could change your major and become an english major.
"Please sir, alms for the poor?"

[beautifultoHim]

What's so wrong with teaching? I think it's vital that the children of this upcoming generation have strong, moral teachers. I want to teach early elementary or kindergarten. My mother was a teacher for 10 years before homeschooling my siblings and me for another 6 years. I have a lot of respect for her. Sure there was hardly ever any money in my house, but God provided for us because my parents were in His will. I believe people should do what they love, because God put that love and desire in your heart. If you love to sing, sing with all your might to the glory of the Lord. If you love to teach, be the best teacher around, imparting knowledge of the world and God as you go. So, maybe i'll have to get a second job, but at least I will have peace because I know that I'm doing what God wants me to do. Anyone who wants to teach... GO FOR IT!! :)

[Vinnie]

Teaching is not about money. It's about that little fuzzy feeling you get inside when one of the kids says something profound and you realize that they really did get what you were saying after all.

It can also be really discouraging if you give your all and the students simply don't care......

[Orpheus42]

I couldn't help but chuckle reading this thread.... you see, my family would be THRILLED if I would be a teacher.... I was a music education major for a year and a half, and then I changed to a double BA major in music and Biblical studies. I was in education so that I would get a job and make money which oddly enough seems to be what your family and other people (Crystal) don't think you'll do as a teacher. I realized that wasn't a very good reason to be a teacher, I wanted to be a performer (now I'm not sure WHAT I want to be *LOL*). I love teachers, and I'm pretty sure I would have been a good one, but it just wasn't my heart. Now I have to put up with everyone asking "so what are you going to do with THOSE majors?" My honest answer- "I don't know" doesn't generally get a very favorable reaction... People don't seem to understand that I did not go to college in order to gain skills for a career- I am in college to get an education. I could never work a day in music or in anything involving whatever it is Biblical studies majors do and I would consider my time at UE far from wasted. I love everything I am studying, and I love the college. I wish people could see that is enough for me... God has provided me with food to eat, a place to live, and I always have the money I need when I need it (including several occasions where there's NO WAY it could have been anything but God), and so I have no doubt that he will take care of me always. I only wish my family had the same faith.

Peace, Love, and Jesus Christ,

Jason

[Bohrdumb]

I think there's a way to reach every student out there. They may not want to be reached and you may not be able to do it in one year, but it can be done some where, some way.

Sometimes the teacher doesn't know when they've connected with a student because sometimes what they taught to one student ends up reaching someone else.

[Katie_543]

My mom was a teacher. She taught 4th and 5th grade before I was born, and then went back to teaching preschool when I was in elementary school. Now she is an administrator at the preschool and I work with the childcare kids. It's fun just to fall into teaching moments. Those kids are like open books. They don't know a lot, but are curious about everything. A few weeks ago I was teaching a girl about teeth and what happens when you lose teeth (the roots and nerves, etc.) and it gave me such a cool feeling.

But I decided in HS that I don't want to be a teacher. I thought that's what I wanted to be while I was growing up, but now that I know more about it, I am content with working child care. If I taught anything higher than preschool or Kindergarten the kids would walk all over me. I'm too quiet. I don't have the dominant personality that a teacher needs. I also am not good at verbalizing my thoughts when talking.

Right now I don't know what I want to be. I am going for both an Accounting and a Business degree, but I think I might want to be a Librarian. I just don't know. I haven't found what my gift is.

And you know what? God has given everyone a dominant gift. Crystal, it seems like your gift is teaching. That is the way God made you. That is the perfect profession for you. Just because your parents don't see that doesn't mean it isn't true.

[Flannel Avenger]

pssst... Jason.... I know what all that UE education is for...

It's so you can write that dissertation on the end times and explain to me EXACTLY what it is you believe and WHY!!!

Before you go away to England

:D :angel:

[Orpheus42]

Too late, I'm leaving this afternoon ;)

In all seriousness, I intend to study a bit more and then we'll talk.

Peace, Love, and Jesus Christ,

Jason