Why become a teacher?

There are many reasons why people decide to pursue teaching as a career. For many, having inspirational teacher figures in their childhood probably spurred them to take up the calling. Teachers have a huge impact on our lives, and we are unlikely to forget the people who influence us in a positive way.


Other than making a difference, what other reasons exist to consider teaching?

Good paycheck

If you are looking to get rich quickly, teaching is not your job. However, teachers take home a solid paycheck, and there are opportunities for career growth and pay increase over time. It’s not uncommon for established teachers to own their houses and live comfortable lives.

No boredom

It's not easy to get bored as a teacher because every day brings a new set of challenges. You may have planned your lessons, but you require to be flexible because you never know what will come up. Each academic year, you also get to work with new faces, which translates to new personalities and opinions. You have the ability to change your approach to a particular subject to make things exciting.

Job security

It may differ from state to state, but rarely will you hear of teachers being downsized. There are always teaching jobs available, and once you’ve established yourself, it can be a buyer’s market out there.

And probably the best thing about being a teacher is: you know all the answers!

Sarah Eller Wake County is a high school social studies in Wake County, teaching at the same high school she attended more than a decade ago.