So you think you want to be a teacher? Have you thought about what that means?  Do you know what kind of students you want to work with? Have you thought about what kind of learning you want to nurture? Teaching is a very demanding, challenging, and rewarding profession. Therefore, to teach well, you will have to have a commitment to teach all children. You may think because you love children teaching is right for you. However, will you remain committed to teach students who are not lovable, who do not want your help, and who are not afraid to let you know that they don’t like you, and that think you dress funny, and that they wish you would go back to where you came from? 

In this publication, I hope to guide your thinking about entering the field of education. It is about schools and schooling, teachers and teaching, learners and the process of learning. It is also about you. This text will challenge you to identify the attitudes, skills, and dispositions that the field of teaching requires. It is designed to give you a realistic notion of what it means to be a teacher today. You will learn about, reflect on, and explore the challenges and the possibilities of teaching all students in the 21st century. But, first, let me share my story with you. You will see that my initial vision of teaching did not match my reality; however, in the end, my passion for nurturing the growth of young minds was enough to help me get through a difficult first year assignment.