In the fall of 2003 I was in the midst of my student teaching assignment. I remember a talk I had with my mentor wherein I told her I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a teacher. This after 4 and a 1/2 years of school in order to do just that. I was tired and running on empty, I felt as though I were being called to something else. One day after a social studies lesson to the first graders I was teaching my mentor wrote in my journal something I will never forget. She wrote, "You can't not teach, this is your calling. Whatever road you choose, you will educate".
7 years later as I am struggling to find a permanent job, have worked in some crazy places, faced budget deficits, training after training and encountered kids from every walk of life I know this is true.
For a while this summer I was under the impression I was at a crossroads. That my tenure in education was over and I was on to find something bigger, better to do with my life. I was wrong, the only crossroads I am facing is where will I teach next. I am a teacher. I see clearly that my mentor was correct, I cannot not teach, it's who I am.
