What to Expect with a Teaching Career

We all have assumptions about what a typical day for teachers looks like, based on our years in school, but there are many parts of a teacher’s job that you may not have considered.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of being a teacher and some of the challenges you’ll face along the way.

Benefits of Being a Teacher

Being a teacher is one of the most exciting, dynamic, and inspiring career paths that you can take, and you can reap those rewards almost every single day. Here are a few of our favorites.

Autonomy in the Classroom

Though your schedule may be fairly structured, teachers have a lot more autonomy than you may think. Most teachers are provided with a core curriculum to follow. Within this framework, teachers can craft effective and engaging lessons and then teach those lessons in the manner they consider to be most compelling and valuable, based on their own expert knowledge of their students.

A Career of Creativity

Your classroom is a place where you can be creative, intentional, innovative, and fun. Come up with your own lesson plans, think outside the box, and flex a set of muscles that you may not have been able to use in other jobs.

Strong Work/Life Balance

A teacher’s workload can be challenging during the school year, but many educators find their workday schedule to be more flexible. One of the biggest advantages that teachers enjoy is the flexibility of breaks during the school year and over the summer, during which they often travel, spend quality time with friends and family, or even pursue other interests.

Deep Relationships with Peers

Another important benefit of pursuing a teaching career, and one that is hard to quantify, is the strong, deep relationships you form with your peers. Being in a supportive work environment with passionate, like-minded people can be incredibly inspiring and is immeasurably helpful during challenging times. Teachers typically share a “we’re all in this together” mindset, into which they quickly welcome new colleagues.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Being an educator can take you outside of the classroom, as well. Many teachers go on to pursue administrative roles, such as being principal, superintendent, consultant, or other opportunities in the world of education.

A Sense of Fulfillment

Teachers often find purpose and fulfillment through the lives they touch. They’re able to celebrate with students and parents during happy times and serve as pillars of support in sad times, all the while seeing the firsthand impact of their careers. 

What It Takes to Be Successful as a Teacher

It takes a special kind of person to be a teacher. The individuals who find the deepest sense of fulfillment are those who have a desire to create change and face any challenges head-on.

A Passion for Working With Young Minds

For example, those who go into the field of education often do so because they enjoy spending time with kids. This can be a fun and fulfilling aspect of the job, especially when you get to help them learn and grow. However, working primarily with children can be a difficult transition for those who are accustomed to working with adults.

As an educator, you need to have the patience, discipline, and desire to work through that transition and know that the payoff will far outweigh the growing pains you may face along the way.

Patience with Parents

Another challenge that teachers may face is dealing with highly involved parents who might disagree with your teaching style. However, most teachers find this to be quite manageable, due to the high levels of support they receive from their school administration and their colleagues.

Financial Stability: Quality Over Quantity

Being a teacher is a calling. To be successful, you need to have the desire to make a difference as your primary motivator. Teachers may not earn as much money as many other professionals, but most educators aren’t in it for the money; they teach to help transform the lives of their students.

That said, there are plenty of financial reasons to become a teacher. The benefits are incredible, and you can earn scheduled pay raises with years of experience, move into leadership roles, and pursue additional degrees or certifications. You’ll also have paid time off each summer, during which you can pick up side work by teaching night classes or summer school.

Think you have what it takes to be successful and welcome the intangible rewards that come with being a teacher? Keep reading to figure out whether or not this is the right path for you to take.

Is Becoming a Teacher the Right Path for Me?

After weighing the benefits and challenges of being a teacher, you can ask yourself this series of illuminating questions:

• Am I interested in making a positive impact on youth in my community?
• Do I love to help others and share my knowledge and experience?
• Am I someone who loves building meaningful relationships?
• Am I looking for more fulfillment in my career so that I can make a real, measurable, and visible impact on people’s lives?

If you answered yes to these questions, let’s take a look at the different paths you can take to become a teacher.