There is no job as demanding as teaching; but then, nothing can be more rewarding. Like any other profession, there are burn out seasons in teaching, but so are the rewarding and fulfilling times.

I love the fact that as a teacher, I make a difference in my student’s lives. There are many professions that give people the ability to have a positive impact on the world, but there are few professions that have as direct of an impact on creating a better society as teachers do. People tend to remember their teachers for years after they finish school: good teachers can inspire students to become something that they never thought they could be, or to work in a field that they did not think they were cut out for.

Teaching is one of those professions that keeps you on your toes and young at heart. It allows you to use your brain to continue learning each day, sometimes through a variety of professional development methods. It’s a profession that allows you to be creative, and to work with a variety of different people. You learn new strategies, ideas, and skills. You learn a lot about yourself, not only as a teacher but as a person. You learn how much or how little you can handle each day. You learn more about your craft and how to best communicate it with your students. Each day brings with it a new beginning. How many jobs can possibly do that?

Teaching also keeps you on your toes by allowing you to explore. As a teacher, every day is a new day, you never get bored. When you enter your classroom, you have no idea what is going to happen despite the lesson plan. This is not to discredit the lesson plans but rather to emphasize that every student is unique and is a challenge. You can be so silly as to do things that you would never do in front of other adults. Your classroom is your domain, a place where you are free to show off your personality and craft and create anything that you wish. Now how many jobs allow you to do that?

Unlike most careers, a teaching career gives the opportunity to inspire students, not only academically but personally as well. If you think back to when you were a child, I’m sure you can recall at least one teacher that really stood out and made a difference in your life. Teaching is touching the lives of your students, making connections that will last a lifetime, and providing them with inspiration that will take them places in their lives.

When you are passionate and compassionate for something that you love, shines through. When you love what you do, not only will you make a difference in your students’ lives, but you will make a difference in your own as well. Teaching is made better and more effective when we love and enjoy what we are doing.

The writer is a Language Consultant