why I want to be a high school English teacher

Mercedes Lechlitner
September 2, 2014
Introductory writing assignment I want to be a high school English teacher because I want the opportunity to make a difference in the world. While it may not be as big of a difference as I could see or make in another career I simply want the chance to change somebody’s life, and give my students the chance to do the same for me. I want to take someone who hates school and make them see the beauty that can be found in words, language and writing. I want somebody’s mind to be opened because of my teaching. Language is often referred to as an art, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. It is one of the few areas in school that is creative. I want to see the passion inside of students writing, as well as give them an appreciation for language. I do not want to be an English teacher just to give students a grade, or to sit there and judge their writing I want to show them that what they have to say is important and is worth more than a grade. I simply want to be there to give constructive criticism. I want people to view English class as an opportunity rather than an obligation. I hope to help people acquire a passion for learning, for people to want to pick up a book in their spare time and see where it can take them. I simply want to help people realize the places that language can take you. To me a good teacher is somebody who loves their job, and has a passion for what they are doing. They care not only about what they are teaching but also about the students they are teaching and want nothing more than to help them succeed and reach their wildest dreams. In order to be a good teacher they need to be knowledgeable about what they are teaching about. They need to be dedicated to the job and the students, and flexible to work around every student to the best of their abilities. They need to be patient and realize that not every student works at the same pace. They also need to be relatable, students will find it much easier to learn from them if they know what they are talking about. For example an English teacher should be up to date on current literature, just as a music teacher should be up to date on modern music. When I am a teacher I intend on becoming a good teacher by playing up to my advantages, I am young so I feel that will make me much more relatable, I wasn’t in high school all that long ago. I will show my students that I care about them by doing my best to prove that I am trustworthy, and I am not just there to give them a grade but help them expand their horizons. I will show them that I love what I do by being passionate about my job, always keeping their best interest in mind, and going out of my way to make sure every student succeeds and preforms as good as he or she is willing to in the class. In my mind the purpose of education is to help prepare students for whatever they have coming for them in life. English in specific is necessary for everyone, whether they have an academic future or not. It is important for everyone to be able to have a proper conversation, even if it is just for a job interview it is important to be able to make yourself sound intelligent. To me the purpose of education is to better people, to give them an opportunity for a better future. I hope my students learn from me a passion for learning. I want to instill in them a love for education, knowledge and just getting the most out of the everyday. As mentioned earlier there is so many reasons I want to be a teacher but one of the main reasons is that I want to change their minds and change English, language and literature from an obligation to an opportunity. After my class I just want students to see the power that lies in words, through language, literature and even their own writing. I just want to implement a change.