7 Wonderful Reasons Why You Should Become a Teacher ...

Teaching means that I actually keep up to date with what the youth culture is concerned with - primarily because I have to in order to be on their level and ensure that the lessons I create are relevant to them. This keeps me young mentally, and although I'm by no means ancient, connecting with young people means that I can absorb some of their energy and youth via osmosis. Well, kind of. This is one of the great reasons you should become a teacher.

Teaching means that you're giving something back to society and contributing to the shaping of the minds of tomorrow's leaders, innovators, movers and shakers. You're also contributing to the community. Teachers are, by and large, seen as role models and respected by others. Perhaps in some countries more so than others, but I like leading by example and being the best I can be so that I can ensure my students can be the best they can be.

The irony is that the person who learns the most in the classroom is the teacher, which is why the act of teaching means you are learning! Becoming a teacher also means that you will constantly be learning about the changes in the profession. Frequent syllabus changes mean that you may be teaching lots of different things over a number of years and broadening your horizons, making you more able to impart wisdom upon your lovely students.

One of the great things about teaching is that it can fit nicely around raising a family. This obviously depends on where and what you teach, but you will mostly take your holidays when your children take theirs, which means childcare becomes less of an issue. One of the down sides, of course, is that travel becomes more expensive as the prices are hiked up during the holiday season.

Teaching doesn't have to start and begin with your presence in the classroom. It's a profession that, with the advances in technology, is always evolving. There are so many things you can do with teaching - creating resources for others to benefit from, creating apps and online resources to supplement your teaching, and examining for an exam board can all be great ways to supplement your income.

Teaching is a vocation. It's generally a profession through which you're unlikely to become a millionaire but that's beside the point. You can have a real and lasting impact on a young person's life by helping them realize their potential, which is incredibly satisfying.

I can honestly say that no two days are the same for me in teaching. The job is by no means a sedentary one, which means I regularly clock-up a lot of the mileage on that (imaginary) pedometer and burn loads of calories, but that's one of the perks of the job! Also, every class is different with its own unique brand of characters that make me laugh every day - great for the soul!

If you were thinking of taking up teaching as a career, I would recommend it. Yes, like all jobs, it can be tiring, but it's rewarding and fun. Are any of you teachers or thinking of becoming one? What do you love about the job?