Hm, interesting ambition, Azure! I had longed to be a teacher (same subject, literature/creative writing) when I was in high school as well, so I totally understand having that passion. I remember sitting in class listening to a lecture and imagining myself being up there, giving the lecture to the wide-eyed students. :28: So of course, I decided to go into insurance instead.
(Huh?!?) (lol) ...That's a different story, insurance rather just 'fell in my lap' so to speak, and I've been doing it for about 8 years now... no, I don't like it, but I own my business so at least I don't have to deal with office politics or a mean boss anymore. That makes it worth it for me.
Getting back to you... a teaching career does leave some things to consider. I'm sure you're dad has encountered some of it already... it's been a while since I was in high school but I do know how drastically the environment has changed. School shootings, bathroom/locker room videos posted on the internet... some really back-stabbing stuff is going on more so now than it did when I was a kid. It scares the heck out of me, really. My 11 year old daughter is going into junior high next year. So, first there's a safety issue to consider when contemplating a teaching career. Next thing to think about... as I understand it, teacher's get awful pay. Not only that, a lot of teachers have to supplement their income another way when they're on their summer breaks, so essentially teacher's end up loving their job during the majority of the year (but usually do work too hard, putting a
lot of hours in) and probably hate whatever dead-end thing they end up being stuck with during the summer months. Though, if you love what you do or have a supplemental income in the household, it can work out quite well.
Now that I've been a total downer here, (sorry
)... I can actually say that I think being a teacher is a wonderful job to have. Bearing in mind the potential issues and doing all one can to prevent becoming victim to them is a smart thing for anyone to do in any situation. Teacher's leave a permanent impression on a lot of their students, helping to form them into productive, well-educated people, and just that alone is a wonderful thing. Go for it, Azure. :28:
~Bright Blessings~
CA Teacher of the Year for the whole state in 2004, as a matter of fact. (I always brag for him, lol)