Written By: Robyn Shulman

A Teacher.

From a very young age I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I remember the thrill when my mother brought home a new box of Crayola chalk—eager to see whether the pieces were colored, thin, thick, or plain white. I can still picture the moment the box opened and a faint dusting of chalk settled on my nose like a tiny cloud. I arranged the chalk meticulously by color and size along a small green chalkboard and carried that board outside every afternoon after school. Children from the neighborhood would hurry to claim a spot on our tiny apartment porch, excited for my makeshift class. The space was small, but somehow we always fit everyone in, and those early lessons felt important and alive.

A teacher is born every day from various circumstances.

While teaching felt like an innate calling, an influential factor in my choice to pursue education at the age of ten was watching family members struggle because they lacked formal schooling. Observing the real consequences of limited access to education made a deep impression on me and strengthened my determination to become a teacher. Those early experiences framed teaching not only as a passion but as a meaningful way to make a practical difference in people’s lives.

As I grew older I discovered a simple truth: giving in the classroom often felt like receiving. Working with children, guiding their curiosity, and celebrating small breakthroughs gave me a sense of purpose that never grew stale. My first fourth-grade class, which I taught in 1997, has long since graduated from college. Over the years many former students have reconnected with me online. Seeing their accomplishments and knowing I played a part in their journeys remains one of the greatest rewards of this profession.

Why did you choose to become a teacher?

Was it a calling deep inside you, or the influence of family members who taught or inspired? Perhaps you discovered your love of teaching through volunteer work, tutoring, or simply the joy of helping someone learn something new. Did you always feel passionate about it, or did that passion develop over time? And if you find yourself questioning your path now—wondering if you’re in the wrong profession or feeling regret—know that those doubts are common and worth exploring honestly.

Teaching today is challenging. Securing a position can be difficult, and staying in the field demands resilience. Political pressures, inconsistent or insufficient funding, intense competition for roles, and the responsibility of meeting the needs of increasingly diverse classrooms all add complexity to the job. Many educators balance curriculum expectations with students’ social, emotional, and practical needs, and that balancing act can be exhausting. Despite these hurdles, many people continue to enter teaching because the work matters: teachers shape futures, open doors, and create opportunities.

For me, the rewards come in quiet, human ways—the moment a student understands something for the first time, the notes of gratitude from former pupils, the long-term outcomes that reveal themselves years later. Those connections and the knowledge that education can change a life are what sustain me through difficult days.

If you chose teaching, you likely have a story about what drew you to the classroom and what keeps you there. Maybe you were inspired by a mentor, or by personal experience. Maybe you love the subject you teach and want to share it with others. Whatever your reason, your perspective matters: the field of education depends on dedicated people who are willing to invest in children and communities.

Please share your experiences, thoughts, and feelings about how you became a teacher and what sustains you in this work. Your story can encourage others who are considering the profession or help fellow educators feel less alone in the daily challenges and rewards of teaching.