Oh, the joys of dealing with teenagers. I love them, I sincerely do. They keep me up to date to what is hip and cool. I know about countless rappers, musicians, K-Pop, Magna than I ever wanted to know in my entire life. They also tell me all about their not so wonderful things in their lives that I, never, ask about.

They can also push all my buttons at once and drive me to the point of wanting to jump out of a small building. Or drive them all over with a very big and slow dump truck. I joke, but still, it amazes me. It amazes me that they can scream and scream and tell me they hate me but then the next time I see them I am suddenly their favorite teacher. And it is this, this wonderful bliss of being needed that keeps me in the trenches of public education.

The trenches of public education. Sincerely my days in the Army were far easier than working as teacher. My days as a Paratrooper were far easier than working as a teacher. My deployment overseas was easier than working as a teacher.

But in that old building that I go to everyday is where I sincerely earn my medal. That old building where I often wonder if I am one of the only positive male role models that they have in their lives. So many have been abandoned by fathers and mothers. To the point that many of my students are being raised by a single grandparent. I cannot even image the struggles they bring to school every day. I cannot even image the homes they walk home to in my poor little neighborhood. And part of me does not want to.

But who am I to these kids?

I am the Teacher. I am the one guy they can count on. And over the past twenty years that is what has kept me in public education. That has kept me in a hundred-year-old buildings with old desk and tables and run-down equipment. Just that little feeling of being needed. And being needed is a really good feeling, such a good feeling that it will motivate you to stay in the trench just a little bit longer.

So today, on this Monday, I come and I think. Wow, I had a good day. That one kid who really hates me and hides from me, we actually got along today. Oh, and that one kid who everyone else hates, yeah, she is one of my favorite students. Because deep down inside I know she is crazy smart and I just really want more than anything is for her to see herself the way that I see her.

Yeah, that’s it. While I am in the trench with these poor kids. I just want them to see themselves the way I see them. Little beautiful people with unlimited possibilities.

So now I ask you my fellow teachers. Tell me what makes you stay in your chosen profession? Is it money? Is it fame? Or is it those little wonderful things that no one else sees but you?