Well, some of my students may think so, but no, it is not the reason that I teach. Why would I choose to rack up a large sum of debt, spend two extra years in school, work in an environment where status is everything and lecturers have none, and take a job that pays way less than an entry level career in some fields? Here's the three-part answer: students, progress, and independence.
The best thing about teaching at a university is the students. Yes, the progressing semesters are kind of like the movie "Ground Hog's Day," as with each new group, you teach them some of the same concepts, practices, etc. However, the bright side of that coin is the sea of fresh faces, the changing attitudes and interests, the chance to teach it a little better the next time. I consider my students to be the cream of the crop for public universities in my state. They are generally engaged, polite, and hardworking, even if they are juggling jobs (sometimes more than one), overloaded with priorities (that they sometimes don't get straight), and struggling to find and stay on their best path. They are a perpetually fresh crowd for my stupid jokes, too.
"Progress," and by that I mean basic field-related, technological, cultural change (not qualified as good or bad), is another great reason to teach. Although the fundamentals may stay the same, the ways you can express or practice or identify the fundamentals changes. Blogs, Facebook, wikis, and podcasts are all current and interesting progressive tools that help me look at teaching from different angles. The cultural and communication issues surrounding such progress are even more interesting. Making the material fresh for me and for my students is a priority. Even if they don't know it's "fresh" (because they haven't heard it from me before), I am not bored because I have new readings, new activities, new ideas on how to teach. This is a constant outlet for my creativity.
Finally, I love the peaceful and thoughtful nature of a university campus. Even when the streets are full of flip-flop clad cellphone addicts and even when decades-old internal political rivalries rage behind office doors, a university campus has an air of tranquility. People here think. They generally keep quiet in the library and in hallways. They ponder. I could never work in a warehouse full of cubicles. I like my privacy. I like to stare at the wall and think. I like to lay my head on my desk for 10 minutes after lunch (and wake up with a red spot on my forehead).
These are just the top three reasons why I love my job. Students, progress and creativity, solitude. I can't imagine being out there in the big ugly (aka "real" world).
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3 comments:
Are you completely sure that you don't like to hear yourself talk?? I mean to say, in class, it sure does seem like you love to bask in the glory produced by your verbal eruptions. I'm only joking, you know, right?! ;)
Hmm.. Well, it appears that you are a free thinker! There aren't too many people like you in the world, and if there were more people like you, the world would be a better place. Your intentions appear to be very pure, a quality that most intentions nowadays lack. Regardless of cultural influence telling you what to do and what to not do (make a lot of $$, etc.), you chose to be what you wanted to be, a teacher. It seems to me that you like to create your 'own' world!
Of course I like to hear myself talk...otherwise that posting wouldn't have been so long. (big laughing)
Sometimes in class, I meander and think too much on my feet. That is a weakness in that it is commonly known as "rambling," but on the bright side, it means I am actually thinking and not just repeating tired answers.
Life is too short not to be who you are...but that is already obvious to you! :)
I love this. In deciding to become a teacher, this is close to the list of things that I (will) love about teaching. The progressiveness. The chance to inspire. The chance to change the world...one mind at a time.
I love the university life, too. Living in a city of intelligent people is so cool. I think about that every time I walk through campus and see people walking around, talking, eating, playing outside. How fortunate I am to be a part of such a community! I love it...which is part of the reason I'm still here even though I've graduated.
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