“Why would you want to teach?” My entire life, I have had this question thrown in my face by those who feign interest in my life goals, typically accompanied by a tone that suggests that being an educator is somehow an inferior profession. This question was the immediate follow-up to my statement of “I will become a teacher”; this question has practically become the ironic point of a sentence said with great hope and determination. “But, Caitlin, you're so smart; you could do much more. Teachers hardly earn money,” they continue, implying that not only is it not necessary to be intelligent as a teacher, but also that financial benefits are the only source of fulfillment for a human being, even after I explained that I never wanted do it. do anything except teach children. I want to teach, I will teach, because I have never wanted to do anything else as a career. Never once did I imagine myself working in a field other than education. While most children daydreamed of lofty future professions, such as becoming an astronaut or a famous magician, I imagined myself in front of a blackboard explaining simple addition to a room full of enthusiastic students. I've changed my mind about many, many things in my life, but my career choice? I never questioned it. Witnessing the moment when a kindergartner realizes that any number subtracted by himself equals zero, and knowing that I am responsible for the sense of accomplishment that shines on his face, is a feeling that made me feel I had the fortunate to work as a volunteer teaching assistant at Gulf Elementary through Ida Baker's Education Academy, and it's a feeling I look forward to experiencing again and again through...... middle of paper...... p before the start of the next lesson. This brings me to the topic of parental involvement. I have noticed that there is a clear difference in understanding of the subject matter between students whose parents often work with their children at home and students whose parents rarely work with them. This is why, when I give my lesson, I will greatly emphasize the importance of parental involvement in a child's schoolwork. As my journey to achieve my goal of becoming an educator nears its final stages, I'm becoming even more anxious to finally be able to do what I've dreamed of doing pretty much my entire life. I know that my immense patience for children will be beneficial to my future students. I know I will make a difference in their lives. I know that I will be a valuable member of any school in Lee County where I teach.