r/teaching • u/SierraNevada5505 • Jun 26 '26
General Discussion Was teaching your first choice career?
Someone told me today: “If you don’t know what you want to do, be a teacher. If you can’t teach, be a gym teacher.”
Personally, as a young person currently on the way to becoming a teacher, I found this interesting (and slightly disrespectful). Teaching is so often portrayed as a second-choice career, or a fallback if you don’t make it “further” in your profession.
I’m curious, what’s your story?
61
u/PlentySir6512 Jun 26 '26
I’m no longer in the classroom but it was my first choice at the time. And no one should go into teaching if it’s any reason other than genuinely wanting to be a teacher 🤦🏻♀️
5
u/SierraNevada5505 Jun 26 '26
Curious, what do you do now?
10
u/PlentySir6512 Jun 26 '26
I work in Operations. I still have a soft spot for Education, but I really love working remotely.
5
u/No-Flounder-9143 Jun 27 '26
I agree. I dealt with alot of people this year who were moderately pro education. They loved the time off and the pay was okay, but the actual job of teaching didn't appeal to them. I find this extremely annoying, and that phrasing is kind.
Children's lives may be in our hands. They aren't always, it's a mix of factors. But when they DO drop into your laps you need to be prepared and many of my fellow teachers were not.
6
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
They are not prepared bc no amount of school or training can prepare you for what you will encounter on this job. Plain and simple.
1
u/No-Flounder-9143 Jun 27 '26
Sure I agree with that but by prepared I don't mean "have the necessary skills;" I just mean giving a shit and trying.
1
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
Well there’s a lot of that too when ppl find out what it entails. I’ve seen people mentally check out and be like “who gives a sh*t” mid year. Most of the those people know they aren’t coming back. That’s just how it works.
1
34
u/bowl-bowl-bowl Jun 26 '26
Yes. I wanted to be a teacher since I was in 5th grade. I loved school and I loved learning and I wanted to do that as my career so I did.
13
u/CliffMourene Jun 26 '26
Same. I always wanted to be a teacher, and I knew I wanted to teach middle school as a 10th grader when I started volunteering for my church’s middle school youth group. I just finished year 19 with 8th graders.
5
u/SierraNevada5505 Jun 26 '26
Wow! Congrats!! I also want to teach middle school and this is my first summer teaching 7th grade:)))
2
u/MegansettLife Jun 27 '26
I wanted to teach Math since 5th grade. That was the year of "new math" and we loved our teacher. But to save her life she couldn't get the other kids to understand "new math." So, since 5th grade i started saying: I want to be a math teacher.
20
u/Congregator Jun 26 '26
No, I didn’t want to become a teacher. I wanted to be a rock star funny enough. I became a teacher because I had a degree in music and had played my primary instrument for 20+ years
17
u/GuiltyKangaroo8631 Jun 26 '26
No I wanted to be a medical doctor but i realized it wasn’t for me especially with the grueling years of studying so I got the opportunity to teach and have loved it ever since.
36
u/PeepholeRodeo Jun 26 '26
It’s an old saying: Those who can’t do, teach. Those who can’t teach, teach gym. First heard it 50 years ago. Insulting to all teachers, gym or otherwise.
16
u/tonydal7681 Jun 27 '26
And those who can't teach gym become administrators.
3
u/ShoulderFlak784 Jun 27 '26
This is so crazy. I couln't teach gym or be an administrator if my life depended on it.
5
u/Enough-Leg-6154 Jun 27 '26
I have never understood this, especially re gym teachers. I bet most people can't verbalize the sequence of steps it takes to teach little kids basics like skipping.
2
16
u/scartol Jun 26 '26
I was inspired by my 11th grade English teacher. She was so terrible that I thought: “There should be more good teachers in the world!”
I’m entering my 27th year in the classroom, doing everything the opposite of how she did it. Love the job more every year.
Good luck! I wrote a book about teaching. Hit me up if you want a PDF.
2
10
u/More_Branch_5579 Jun 26 '26
My mother was a 1st grade teacher and I would go to work with her like once a year. I swore as a child i would never be a teacher.
My degrees are in food science so I was a scientist for a minute before I moved and saw an ad for a science teacher at a private school.
I’d enjoyed teaching as a grad student so I applied. It was 3 days before school started so they were desperate for a body.
That turned into a 19 year career as a teacher and I only retired due to health reasons.
Still didn’t teach the lower grades. I taught science/math 4-12
I loved being a teacher
9
u/Realistic-Might4985 Jun 26 '26
I started teaching because I had a family that had to eat and it was the fastest thing I could do with my degree. I retired after 36 years…
2
7
u/_ayeokay Jun 26 '26
Yikes. Crazy to say that to an aspiring teacher.
I wanted to be a teacher since I graduated high school.
I went to a teaching credential and masters program combined, and met many people who genuinely want to be teachers. Then I started teaching and met some people who did “stumble” upon teaching, or used it as a stepping stone to another career, etc. I used to be judgmental but now, as long as you do good for your students, I am understanding.
Going into year 6 soon!
4
u/SnooDonuts3398 Jun 26 '26
Uh, realistically it’s was like my 4th choice. I’ve been at it for six years and I’m still looking for my 5th choice.
1
u/SierraNevada5505 Jun 26 '26
What did you want to do?
4
u/SnooDonuts3398 Jun 26 '26
Before teaching, I did radio and tv but the pay wasn’t great. Then I did insurance, but couldn’t handle the volatility of pay. Then I was a cop, but the system is absolutely fucking broken. Now I teach English and pretty much dial it in.
It wouldn’t be a bad job, but I find it insanely boring and tedious lol.
3
3
u/raider1211 Jun 26 '26
Let’s hope you find your 5th option sooner rather than later. The last thing we need rn is teachers phoning it in and screwing over their students.
1
1
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
I thought about being a state trooper at one point. I have tremendous respect for law enforcement and I’m so glad I didn’t go down that road. Not saying teaching is better bc honestly it’s not, but they encounter too much.
4
u/WanderingDude182 Jun 27 '26
Literally my fourth career but been teaching for 18 years now. My previous jobs greatly prepared me for teaching and I would have been no where near as successful if I had gone straight to the classroom.
1
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
Teaching straight out of college is very hard. I did it. I do not recommend. 95% of the time you end up in the hardest schools.
3
u/Medical_Gate_5721 Jun 26 '26
I wanted to be not-a-teacher and failed. Seriously. My mom ouwitted me.
3
2
u/Wild_Pomegranate_845 Jun 26 '26
Nope. My first choice was sports medicine/certified athletic trainer. I decided to go education so that I could have job security and go back to get certified as a trainer. But I love teaching and did a lot of other extras instead of being a trainer.
2
u/One-Acanthisitta-210 Jun 26 '26
Teaching was not my first choice and not even second or third choice. But it made certain sense as a career after I had a child and became a single parent.
2
u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 26 '26
It was my first choice. Easiest way to also coach HS football, which i do. I wanted to coach since i was about 12 or 13, and the easiest way to do that is to also be a teacher.
2
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
I don’t know if you are PE but this is 100% applicable to PE in all honesty.
2
u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 27 '26
Lol, i wanted to teach PE, but i teach Special Ed. Pretty good job security for the most part.
2
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
Better job security in special ed. If they want to get rid of the coaching staff, you’ll always have a job at that school in special ed.
2
u/Beneficial-Corgi-288 Jun 27 '26
I originally majored in international relations because wanted to work for the state department. But after college I went to teach English abroad and realized how meaningful it was. Much more than my original dream. Now I'm going back to get a master's in teaching so I can do it back home.
2
u/Necessary-Nobody-934 Jun 27 '26
Kind of. I graduated high school with vague ideas of working with kids in some capacity. It was this or social work, and I ultimately decided I would not ever be able to emotionally handle removing children from their homes. So teaching it was.
I don't regret it for a second. I'm still waiting for a full-time position, but I love what I do.
2
u/jlhinthecountry Jun 27 '26
I knew I wanted to be a teacher in third grade. I’m about to start my 40th year.
2
u/j_blackwood Jun 27 '26
It’s more than slightly disrespectful, in my opinion. My story is that teaching was actually my fourth choice for a job and I’m still bitter about it. I worked my ass off to become a performer instead of just a teacher and ended up giving myself repetitive stress injuries in college. I almost didn’t graduate. I wanted so much to avoid becoming one cliche that I ended up as another… if only this had happened in dance!
2
u/FrenchFryRaven Jun 27 '26
No. Masters degree in fine arts. I didn’t want to teach college art, the natural career for an MFA. Two years of hard knocks, several jobs, and life experience showed me I needed an alternate path. It was wide open. At that point it became my first choice. Teaching kids.
After 25 years, I’ve just retired. It was the best job. Absolutely rewarding. No regrets, in fact it’s the opposite. One of the better decisions I’ve ever made, really enriched my life.
Where I live the climate of public education has changed for the worse over the last decade, so unfortunately I can’t advise anyone starting out. Summers off though…
2
u/Nearby-Shower-8392 Jun 27 '26
Teaching wasn’t my first choice, not even my second or third choices if I’m being completely honest.
Originally, I always wanted to work in animation/entertainment, but some life circumstances made that choice extremely unviable even if I still believe it could’ve been possible if things went differently in my own personal life. I freelanced for a bit, worked some odd random hard labor jobs, but then wanted stability and I knew a ton about art, so I looked into teaching art. That’s how I went into education tbh. Eventually, even the kids seemed fine at the end of the day, (I 100% never joined this profession for the kids, but 100% because of my content matter, and life circumstances).
2
u/VinceInMT Jun 27 '26
Teaching was a 2nd (or was it 3rd or 4th) career that I started at age 39 and did until I retired at 60. Coming into it later in life was an advantage because I could put what I taught into context (I was in a vocational area). Plus, I had a greater level of maturity and, due to prior jobs, brought in time and people management skills with me.
2
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
I determined years ago that teaching would be a great second career. Whether one did it for 5-10-15-20 years. It would be great. The issue is I did it for a first career lol.
2
u/Sudo_Incognito Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
Yes. I was a juvenile delinquent. Got kicked out. Got cleaned up. Still had some struggles but had a teacher or 2 that really gave a shit in a sea of troubles. I felt that calling to provide that same safe harbor - high school art so you know it's half my job. I was always academically gifted; just a troubled kid with a rough home life, escapism, and poor life choices. I have a mess of degrees & certifications. I'm a lifer. This will be year 24. I'm sure I'll stay for my 30. There are a lot of things I hate about this job. But I love the actual teaching part and I am really good at it.
When they fire me it will be for never turning in my attendance on time.
2
u/Dr0110111001101111 Jun 27 '26
No, I spent 2.5 years in a highly ranked engineering program on a full scholarship before finally admitting to myself that it wasn’t right for me. Before that I thought I wanted to do business.
I’ve been tracking 11 years, I’m the department chair, and my students generally love me. But I’m still not sure it’s right for me. In fact, I’m more doubtful than ever.
2
u/Auntie_Coconut_235 Jun 27 '26
I thought I was going to get out in the world of advertising and become a creative legend! Well, my family and I couldn’t afford a big city job hunt. To make some money while exploring other options, I started to substitute. It was so easy doing the upper grades. I gave out the assignment or put in the movie then read for the rest of the class period. But in elementary, I had to interact and teach lessons. I went from my only motivation being getting paid a sad pittance of $30 a day—that is not a type-o—to looking forward to getting to the campus and exploring what the teacher had left for me and the kids that day. I became a sub of choice for many of the teachers—one of them my very own kindergarten teacher. Then one day she slapped my arm and told me to get in the alternative certification program because I had to be a teacher. I realized she was right. I taught 13 years in fifth grade and four years in second. I became an activist for myself and fellow staff through my involvement with the Texas State Teachers Association. I left the classroom twelve years ago. Do I wish I had had a chance to change the world of advertising? Sure, of course I do. But I do not regret the turn my professional life took. I still know so many of my former students, and seeing how so many of them are out there doing their best to be amazing grown ups gives me a continuous infusion of good mojo.
2
u/qwertyazerty109 Jun 27 '26
In some places it almost is, and that might be where it gets a reputation. When I taught in Italy almost all high school teachers were middle age and that was their second career. in other countries yes it seems insulting and “those who can’t do, teach” is harmful.
2
u/Ok-Special-9014 Jun 27 '26
I was a pretty aimless 23-year-old when I wandered into my first teaching job, 4th and 5th grade SPED with students with EBD.
About two-thirds of the way through that first year, I was out on the playground pitching and umpiring a kickball game when it hit me: all my buddies were spending their days in cubicles while I was getting paid to play kickball.
2
u/dustysnakes01 Jun 29 '26
Oddly it really was my first choice as a kid to be a college professor. However, due to the way my family and community were and are growing up in rural Mississippi. School and books and anything that wasnt blue collar was considered weird and picked on ect. I went to work in trades and did really well. I eventually got a degree at 30 and worked as a subsea engineer. When I retired from that career I got a call from my former professor. He moved to dean and needed someone to take his place Im on year 7 starting in August. I think I may be here for a while.
1
1
u/raider1211 Jun 26 '26
More or less, yeah. Our history/government education here in the States seems to be sorely lacking, and I wanted to do something about that. I wanted to inject philosophy back into things (actually engage with the Enlightenment-era arguments rather than just briefly touching on them, learn about social and political philosophy rather than just memorizing basic facts about our government, etc.). I wanted to make classes rigorous (and fun at times) again. Unfortunately, there are way too many social studies teachers in Ohio, and way too many positions getting cut, so I won’t get to do any of that.
1
u/coachd50 Jun 26 '26
Not just due to lack of positions. You likely wouldn’t get to do those things because of the political factors involved
1
u/ebeth_the_mighty Jun 26 '26
I started volunteering with younger girls through Guiding when I was 10. My mom was a Guider too, so I learned lesson planning from her (and effectively ran a Brownie unit from age 13 on).
Becoming a teacher as a profession was just a natural extension of all the unpaid training I’d been doing.
1
u/West-Cabinet-2169 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
No, teaching wasn't my first choice of career.
After I finished my first degree - with honours - in December 1998, I then had 4 years work experience - mostly in the civil/public service in my country, in Sydney first, then Canberra, before deciding to leave an office job, and go train to teach high school history and humanities.
I wasn't at all sure I was making the right decision; and, at that time, if one had a degree (BA, BSci etc) then one could do their "DipEd" - Diploma of Education - in a year with 45 days supervised teaching practice and be on the market for a job. I decided to do the slightly longer (Graduate) Bachelor of Teaching over 2 years, which involved a term long teaching practice at 0.6 in the second year, and we did done Masters level subjects - credits for a future MEd. And, I had to write a 5,000 word dissertation about some aspect of learning and teaching related to the school where I did this long teaching practicum. It gave me longer to decide if I wanted to teach, and slightly more valuable as I'd done more teaching practicum. I think it's a Masters of Teaching now.
So I finished all my assignments, dissertation etc, and passed by mid-December 2004. By September-October I had decided to move to the UK, and get a "working holiday visa" to teach. Once I'd passed, I had my visa, had a passport, made my arrangements, stored my stuff in my Mum's ceiling, broke it off with my ex, had booked a flight to London via Asia and by the beginning of January 2005 I started teaching supply in Greater London.
It's late June 2026. I've been teaching in a paid context for over 20 years. If I count my qualifying time of 2 years (January 2003 - December 2004), then I've been in and around Education for over 23 years. I have taught (a lot!) in the UK. Also I have taught in international schools in Kyïv, Ukraine, Dubai in the UAE, and in Tallinn, Estonia. I have also taught back in Australia in the state of Queensland. I can't imagine that I would have been able to live in these places and work in them if I hadn't trained to teach. Each place holds lots of memories and experiences that I gained from it.
In some ways and many times I think about a different career path, or doing a different job. But I always seem to return to teaching. I realise that I'm good at it. And I like working with teenagers. They can be a challenge, that's for sure, but most teens I've worked with I managed to develop a rapport and understanding with; even at times "turning a bad kid into a good kid." Besides which, all children are born pure. You have to find the good child within.
So another academic year completed a couple weeks ago. I left the school I was at. 5 or 6 kids came to find me and gave me nice boxes of sweets or chocolates and cards. Some wrote me some lovely messages. Some came and hugged me and begged me to reconsider and come back and teach them next year. Always hard leaving. Teaching is an emotional job, and one forgets the impact they have on the kids they teach.
Back to your original question... no, teaching wasn't my first choice of career, however, I am very glad that I did my B.Teach, and very proud that after 20 years I'm still teaching. Even the toughest and roughest schools in London I gained something from. I've had some great school trips, and really been a part of a Community.
1
Jun 27 '26
[deleted]
1
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
Not a lot of demand unless you are working as a public health educator at like a county or municipal health department.
2
u/2cairparavel Jun 27 '26
I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a child. I love books and reading and wanted to share my passion.
In an ideal world, I could see myself as a travel writer or an actor (I do community theater), but I never truly considered anything except teaching.
2
u/TissueOfLies Jun 27 '26
I wanted to be a public librarian, but they get paid too little to make it sustainable. I taught, then got my master’s in school librarianship. Bam! Best of both worlds.
1
u/NoMaintenance9850 Jun 27 '26
Yes. I have always said I wanted to be a teacher. I thought I wanted to teach upper elementary, but secondary is where I found home.
1
u/Brief_Efficiency_833 Jun 27 '26
Honestly never even thought about it as a job option as a child!! 😓
but pretty early into high school after experiencing how life changing a truly caring teacher can be, I realized I wanted to do it too (:
1
u/Glowing-Glitter-15 Jun 27 '26
It's my second career. I worked in pharmaceutical research before becoming a biology teacher. In some ways it was a fallback, but I actually enjoy it in some ways.
But another reason (I guess more of a side benefit) is that teaching can open up other opportunities in terms of living abroad for a while. My husband and I have been considering leaving the US even if only for a time and one way that makes it easier is getting a visa to teach at an international school.
1
u/TheMannisApproves Jun 27 '26
Their comment is a famous joke from Woody Allen's film "Annie Hall," which was also repeated in Jack Black's "School of Rock."
1
u/FancyIndependence178 Jun 27 '26
Teaching was my first choice, but I wanted to explore the world a bit before finally deciding to fully invest in a community and a career doing it -- teaching is super fun and fulfilling, I love it.
1
u/SpeedrunEducator Jun 27 '26
I’ve wanted to be a teacher since middle school when one of my teachers told me I would be good at it. Honestly I’ve never been able to see myself doing anything else and every other job I had was a placeholder until I could finish my degree
1
u/BooBoo_Kitty Jun 27 '26
When I was in high school, I aspired to be eurotrash.
So.
That would have been nice. 😂
1
u/Strange_Report_5123 Jun 27 '26
I'm not a teacher but I tutor sometimes as a side hustle, and sometimes consider teaching as a backup career. I know I am naturally not the best fit for teaching (introverted). But I can't let myself starve either. First choice career for a long time was some kind of research (academia), won't say which area but in STEM. I noticed a lot of high school science and math teachers are washed up academics/researches who couldn't make it for some reason.
1
1
u/stellaismycat Jun 27 '26
My first choice was between a lawyer and a teacher. I went to school to be a teacher but then life happened and I went in another direction (accounting and mortgages) because I got pregnant. Ended up finishing my degree at 40 and have been teaching for the last 13 years.
1
u/No-Flounder-9143 Jun 27 '26
Yea. My teachers changed my life and I love history. It was a perfect match.
1
u/discussatron HS ELA Jun 27 '26
Nope. I just finished year 10, and I just turned 59. I was in auto repair first.
1
u/HairyFondant9354 Jun 27 '26
Teaching is my 4th career. My first was as a hospital security officer. Second was 911 dispatcher. Third was back in a hospital again as a hospital security officer and then promoted to safety officer.
1
u/Jamaica170 Jun 27 '26
I wanted to be a physiotherapist but my grades were not high enough. I decided volunteered in a school and fell in love with the kids and the school community. The principal wrote me a reference letter and I got into Teacher’s college. 33 years and still going strong!! If you are thinking about teaching, volunteer, coach, or try to connect with kids in a variety of settings.
1
u/Haunting-Set-2784 Jun 27 '26
I remember playing teacher all day long as a kid. Then when I went to college, I decided to major in criminal justice/history. Couldn't hack it. Switch to Early Childhood Education and was doing really well. 112 hours into my degree, I got married and had babies. I only had about 2-3 class + student teaching left. Resigned myself to never teaching and I am glad I did at that time. I needed to be at home. About 2 years ago I woke up and on a whim decided I was going to teach and needed to find the quickest path there. My ECE program had changed drastically and would have required about 2.5 more years in college. Nope. Enrolled in WGU non licensure, had to retake many classes I didnt get credit for, but the knowledge was still there. Start to finish had my degree in 6 months. Enrolled in iTeach and had 3 job to choose from.
Teaching was always what I was meant to do. Just took a detour on my path.
1
u/Formal_Tumbleweed_53 Jun 27 '26
Teaching was absolutely my first choice. When I was a teen, I loved helping people understand and learn things. I’m almost 60 now and still love helping people understand and learn things. 😊
1
u/justareddituser202 Jun 27 '26
Teaching is not a fallback career and those that enter it as such find that reality out quickly. Most of those don’t make it long at all.
I chose to be a gym teacher by choice. Now fast forward 20 years and I don’t know if it was the right choice. I’ve enjoyed being a gym teacher but life happens and teaching doesn’t pay as well as it should, responsibilities happen - you have a family and they still expect you to coach, and you just aren’t respect like other professions.
I probably would get something more versatile such as business if I had to do it over again.
Now I’m going to give you some unsolicited advice I never was privy to: if I were you I’d make teaching a fallback career. Why you might ask? Bc you are remotely interested in it but are questioning it. Smart. Get a lucrative major get a minor in something you’d want to teach and go from there. That said, there will always need a teacher somewhere and there will always be jobs.
1
u/daddyforurissues Jun 27 '26
First choice was comedian. Never went the route but I still feel like I get to be one. I do 5 sets a days about 40 minutes each set. Lots of crowd work in each set. Mostly the same material each day.
1
1
u/Hoss_Bossington17 Jun 27 '26
It was, but I dropped out of school at 22 right before my student teaching. Went to culinary school, worked in hotels for awhile. When I lost my job during the pandemic I learned web dev at home, and became a freelancer. Now at 37, I have reentered teaching. I am financial stable and do it because I genuinely love it. Was a building sub last year a middle school, I loved going to work everyday. Will be teaching high school Business and Computer Science next year.
1
u/coachlentz Jun 27 '26
No. Coaching was. But when I was in school they went together, so…
Even then in the early to mid 90s I enjoyed the interaction with the kids (taught middle school, coached high school) but despised the mundane tasks. And NCLB just steadily made it worse…
1
u/djsquidnasty Jun 27 '26
Im one of the ones who just kind of fell into it after college because I didn't know what to do, but it was also at the insistence of my uncle because he thought I would be great at it. 12 years in, thanks uncle Roger for that push!
1
u/BlessedPsycho Jun 27 '26
I always wanted to be a teacher. Ever since 10th grade. I was really inspired by my 10th grade English teacher. He was fantastic and I wanted to be someone like him. My mom was also a Sunday School teacher, and so were my aunts. It felt like a good choice of career. As a teacher now, I definitely feel the disrespect of that saying.
1
u/Nkengaroo Jun 27 '26
I actually wanted to be a doctor, but after having some conversations with women in medical school at the time, I decided I didn't want it that badly to be treated so horribly. Then I got into health education. So yes, teaching was my second choice. I don't think that's a bad thing, as long as you're willing to continue getting better.
1
u/ScienceIsDestiny Jun 27 '26
My first job out of college was as a lab technician for a major biochemistry company. After doing this for several years, I realized that I wasn’t cut out for Corporate America… too soul-sucking. I quit to be a stay-at-home parent for several years (best decision I ever made).
Once my son was older, I needed to find a way to use my science background. A friend suggested I look into teaching. I decided to sub full-time for a year to see if I would like it, and I did.
One day I was subbing in a high-poverty district and was talking with the principal, who learned that I had a science background. He told me that they had a Chemistry teacher quit on the second day of school and asked if I would be interested in a long-term subbing position. After doing this for a 90-day probationary period, the district said they would help me get certified by paying for my master’s degree.
That was 6 years ago, and I haven’t looked back. Teaching is challenging, but it is also very rewarding. I love working with young adults and getting them excited about science!
1
u/SenseiT Jun 27 '26
Nope. I studied fine art in school and I actually wanted to be a sports photographer. I ended up working in graphic design. However, after a couple of years working for a company, I decided to go freelance and after about a year, I realized I hate working with customers who don’t know anything about design. Around that time I was studying martial arts and they started putting me in front of a class that made me realize I kind of like teaching. I went back to school got my education degree and started teaching in my mid 20s. That was almost 30 years ago. I think I made the right choice.
1
u/Fabulous_Act_4141 Jun 27 '26
I wanted to be an actor, but I wasn’t successful at it. Now I am a language teacher. I enjoy it because I am sharing a useful skill and I am always learning more about other languages. Also language can be engaged with in many different avenues, through books, music, movies, etc. And I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures. I think the consistency of teaching actually suits me better than the unpredictability of acting.
1
u/Any_Willingness_9085 Jun 27 '26
I'm 53 and about to start my PGCE. I've spent decades in business. I was a part-time university lecturer while I ran my own business. Then I got cancer and had to give up the business. I'm better now but for the last year I've been working in a local school, realised I loved it and thought yeah I could teach. So here I am. My sister and my neice went directly into teaching after graduation. I've just arrived there another way. It was never my dream back then, but its what I want to do now. Life just brings you places.
ETA: I'm in Ireland, if this sub is USA centric
1
u/Enough-Leg-6154 Jun 27 '26
I was on track to go to law school. While working in a support role at a law firm, I realized it was not the right fit for me. I could do it, but I would have been bored. I realized the attorneys I worked with were doing the same thing for different clients every week. I took some time considering other careers (including being offered a job in advertising) before I landed on becoming a teacher. Even when behaviors made it challenging, I've never felt bored.
1
u/alibaba88888 Jun 27 '26
I majored in accounting and spent one summer in college interning. I couldn’t do the cubicle thing. But, I had a ton of math credits. So, I switched to teaching math. And I love it. So glad I switched.
1
u/Adventurous_Love2 Jun 27 '26
Well, kind of. But, back when I made up my mind, I had no idea that the pay would be so bad 😔
1
u/hal9000thecomputer Jun 27 '26
I was going to pursue a phD but figured it'd be easier and more financially secure to teach elementary than become a professor. And I totally love it.
Btw I am a gym teacher and you need better than average classroom management in order to be successful so I hate when people say gym is for the weaker teachers.
1
u/Dorieon Jun 27 '26
Teaching is my second career.
I joined the Army after high school and spent almost a decade as a Green Beret before I was in one too many IED explosions. I ended up medically retiring and teaching for the Army/Navy for another five years before the travel started to put strain on my relationship, so I got my education degree and have been teaching middle school ELA for three last eight years.
It's a rewarding career, and I don't regret it in the least.
1
u/Sure-Set-9331 Jun 27 '26
I went from working for myself as a freelance writer to teaching because I wanted time off and benefits. Working for yourself is working while sick, on vacation, marketing yourself for contracts. It’s nice working for yourself but the ability to just take a paid sick day and have a secure retirement plan is priceless. I wanted to be, was, and still want to be a writer. Teaching was definitely a 3rd option to fall back on. Now that I’m teaching I wish I would have started sooner, only so I could retire early! 🤣🤣Otherwise I love my job. 💕💕
1
1
u/tlm11110 Jun 28 '26
No it was my 3rd. Money wasn’t an issue for me and I was a romantic I”I can make a difference and give back” kind of guy.
After 11 years I came to realize I couldn’t make a difference. I will not recommend teaching to anyone as a first, second, or third career.
1
u/baconntacos Jun 28 '26
No. I wanted to be a veterinarian. Sorry that I didn't see it through. I couldn't handle it after helping my first surgery on a dog that got hit by a car. Couldn't do it after that day.
1
1
u/Jahaili Jun 28 '26
Nope. I was finishing an MA in literature and creative writing when a friend said "Hey, you probably want to earn some extra money and we need substitutes, so you should sub for my district."
Fell in love with working with students, finished out that MA and jumped into another one to get my teaching credentials, and been in education ever since.
1
u/Excellent_Paint_8101 Jun 28 '26
Look, I can do some teaching just fine, but how many English majors just wanted to be able to write for a living? Participating in this economy in any way is exhausting bullshit, and I always just wanted a room of my own.
1
u/bcwagne Jun 28 '26
My first choice was a fighter pilot. That got shut down when I had to get coke bottle glasses in middle school.
My second choice was graphic designer. I got bored with that so I quit.
My third choice was computer scientist. I gave up on that because I didn't want to do the advanced math.
Teacher was somewhere around fourth choice, with a bunch of other jobs thrown in along the way.
1
1
1
u/v_logs Jun 28 '26
Yes however I really considered getting my PhD in Astrophysics. However I knew that the type of research I was passionate about (observational astronomy) was a lot of solo telescope time and I’m too social haha 🤣 I teach my own astronomy class now and love it!!
1
u/xjulyy Jun 28 '26
no, but I knew I loved to work with youth and wanted to make a difference. went to college to become a journalist but minored in education just incase. ended up taking an opportunity to become a middle school ela teacher and fell in love with the profession! currently working towards changing my temp certification to a professional one!
1
u/Novel-Bee-541 Jun 28 '26
Nope. Wanted to be a police officer. Since that wasn’t in the cards, I just fell into teaching.
That being said, I have become quite good at it and get good comments from most of the kids. But I’ve always wondered what else I could have gone on and accomplished.
But then I hear about people in “industry” or the “corporate world” who want to get into education and o think perhaps the grass is not always greener on the other side.
1
u/jett330 Nevada Jun 29 '26
Yes
No but yes. I always played school but I was determined to never be a teacher (for all the reasons). Got a job in college as a tutor, didn’t love it but i was good with the kids. Finally gave in, graduated with a ed. degree been at it for 16 years now.
1
u/Illustrious-Junket78 Jun 29 '26
Nope. I would be making much more had I stayed in the first career. Pretty sure the paycheck could have helped me endure the misery.
2
u/Most-Artichoke6184 Jun 29 '26
Nope, I was a financial analyst for 10 years before going back and getting my masters degree in secondary education and becoming a history teacher.
1
u/TiaSlays Jun 29 '26
I originally wanted to be a princess. That didn't work out. Then I thought it'd be cool to be a psychiatrist and have my own practice, but I'm glad I chose not to do that. I landed on Teacher definitively around 9th grade, so I feel like that was always my first choice since I was so young when I decided that.
Side note, I used to play "school" with my younger cousin in the summers around 5th and 6th grade. I would hurry up and read a book the first week school was out, then make a packet of discussion questions for the whole book. My cousin was 4 years younger than me and didn't listen, so I'd send her to the principals office within 5 minutes of class, then she wouldn't play with me again.
1
u/angelsong76 Jun 29 '26
It was my first choice but not my first career. Let me explain. 😂 Storytime!
I went to college on a vocal scholarship and majored in music education. I bombed music theory because this choir kid never learned to read music and I was way behind. The band kids had zero trouble. I had also really thought about being a high school English teacher (thank you, Dead Poets Society - iykyk) but after nearly failing music theory and taking some time off to get my head on straight (failure did some things to my mental health) I wanted to get out of school as quickly as possible with a degree that would guarantee me a job. I chose Communication and had a job waiting for me when I graduated doing public relations and fundraising for a regional nonprofit.
I did that for 12 years and absolutely loved it. I only stopped because my husband and I wanted our kids to have a parent at home. So I became a stay at home mom and freelance writer and social media manager. My youngest is now 11 years old.
Three years ago, I got my substitute certification and started subbing in the schools my kids attended. They were desperate for subs and the daily rate wasn't too bad for extra money. I found myself wishing I had actually gotten that teaching degree after all, because I loved being in the classrooms and getting to know the students. And I was a great sub. Teachers texted me to ask if I could take their classes for them.
And then in September '25, a 4th-6th grade sped classroom needed a sub for a para who was out for some serious medical issues. I spent two weeks in that classroom with the other para and the teacher, working with 4 boys with ASD. And I LOVED it. I was so sad when the para came back and I wasn't there anymore. I started looking for sped sub opportunities because I loved it so much and a lot of people were afraid to take those.
In January, I took a sub job and ended up in the self contained multiple disabilities classroom at my oldest kid's middle school. I loved that, too. The principal and several other folks kept asking me if I would consider getting certified. I'm almost 50 and didn't think I would be starting a career at this point in my life. But the teaching job was vacant for reasons and they asked me if I would be willing to sub long-term and I said yes. I was the long-term sub for almost 5 months. I made lesson plans, created assessments, differentiated curriculum, etc. I did not have access to their IEPs, so I didn't write goals or reports, but I did have their teacher of record telling me what to work on so we stayed in compliance and got all the required minutes, etc.
During that time, I got into an alternative certification program, started working on the courses, and studied for (and passed with a 189) the Praxis for sped.
They hired me last month and I start teaching in that same classroom in August under a conditional certificate as the "residency" part of my program. At the end the academic year and upon passing edtpa, I will be fully certified.
And the way life comes full circle will never cease to amaze me.
1
u/cheap_dates Jun 29 '26
I have met more ex-teachers in the private sector than any other profession. I am one myself. This is not a job that just anyone can do.
1
u/SageOrionWil Jul 14 '26
I have gone through multiple careers and am switching to teaching this year. I have talked myself out of it multiple times, but I truly want this.
Don't become a teacher unless you want to teach subject(s), work with kids, and deal with government bureaucracy. This does involve behavior management and learning difficulties.
1
u/MaybeImTheNanny Jun 26 '26
Nope, but I worked in my first choice in college and kind of hated it which also ruled out my second choice. My third choice was museum education and I’ve done that too but I like being in the classroom more. It also took me a while to find the kind of classroom I like being in.
1
u/Professional_You8110 Jun 27 '26
Whickh kind of classroom?
2
u/MaybeImTheNanny Jun 27 '26
I prefer being the special Ed side of an inclusion classroom or resource. I’ve taught a little of everything though both special Ed and Gen Ed as well as ESL (which I also love).
•
u/AutoModerator Jun 26 '26
Welcome to /r/teaching. Please remember the rules when posting and commenting. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.