Week 3: at this point there is no turning back

Hello reader! Even if you haven't had the chance to read through my previous posts, a quick skim will give you all the information you need to know about my current situation in regards to the master's degree: I am desperately lost. Getting the hang of studying again is being a little bit trickier than I thought, but please do not think that this is because I don't like it. All in all, education is what brought me here and both teaching and learning are what I enjoy the most, so I want to share my honest view on this.

If I were to be asked why I want to become a teacher, I wouldn't know where to start. I'm not going to tell you that I enjoy having to work from home because the workload is unmanageable, putting in extra hours to ensure that I am offering high-quality service, or having to deal with picky parents of problematic children. I think we can all agree (regardless of the profession) that teaching is one of the most demanding jobs. Educating a person of any age requires a colossal amount of time, emotional effort, and patience, but to educate a teenager you must have a god-like level of these skills, that's why I prefer teaching adults. In addition to what I have already mentioned, I must add that on many occasions the work that is put in is not proportionally rewarded, so at times it becomes quite hard to keep doing your best when you get the feeling that all your efforts are pointless and this can result in what we know as 'burnout'. It is common to see teachers taking mental health-related leaves to get their spark back, and I think that is heartbreaking.

If I were to be asked why I want to become a teacher, I wouldn't know where to start. But I will tell you this, the emotional reward that you get when you see your students overcome their problems and become the best version of themselves is priceless. The pride that you take in having been involved in that long and challenging journey and getting to see the actual results of putting your back into what you believe in despite the inconveniences is a precious experience. The moments where we must take a more personal turn when students ask for guidance outside the classroom, only make us realize how much of an important figure we are in their life and that our efforts are appreciated by someone. I still cherish some memories of teachers I had back in high school that helped me figure out who I was even before I knew. The things you learn along the way of teaching and helping others only make you grow and that is the most important lesson that we can share with our students.

In conclusion, every cloud has a silver lining and it is your choice whether to focus on the unpleasant parts of your job or embrace the inspiring stories that encourage you to keep on. I might be feeling lost at the moment but I am positive that all the pieces will come together and things will get easier once they click.