I want to take you back to a day that started off full of excitement but ended with a moment that stayed with me. It was my first time working as a substitute teacher at my hometown middle school. I had always imagined myself as an elementary teacher, so stepping into a middle school classroom felt both intimidating and necessary. I wanted to be sure I was choosing the right age group before moving forward with my teaching certificate.
Halfway through the day, I found myself genuinely enjoying the sixth-grade social studies class I was covering. When lunch came around, I ran into my eighth-grade English language arts teacher, someone I had always admired for her kindness and the way she made her students feel seen. I walked up to her excited to say hello and share my plans. When she asked what I wanted to do in the future, I proudly told her I wanted to become a teacher.
Instead of the encouragement I expected, I was met with, “Why would you want to do that? It’s not a good job.” Hearing that from someone I had looked up to was heartbreaking. I thought she would be excited for me, or at least supportive.
That moment taught me something important. In this profession, aspiring educators are often met with discouragement from the very people who inspired them in the first place. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We should be uplifting future teachers, not warning them away. Most of us chose this path because of how a teacher once made us feel valued, capable and inspired. We want the next generation of educators to feel that same spark.
Future teachers deserve to hear about the joy in this work, the small moments when a student thanks you, the breakthroughs, the laughter, the relationships that last long after the school year ends. Yes, teaching has its challenges, but it also has countless moments that remind you why you chose this path in the first place.
If we want passionate, dedicated educators in the future, we need to be the ones who encourage them today.
Madison Baca is the president of NJAEA and a student at Rutgers University.
Does your school host student teachers, practicum students or other future educators?
Students preparing to become teachers are the future of our profession and NJEA leadership. That’s why it’s vital to encourage aspiring educators in your school to join the New Jersey Aspiring Educators Association (NJAEA).
Any student attending a college or university in New Jersey who’s interested in education can join NJAEA, especially those involved in clinicals, student teaching, internships or substitute teaching.
As part of NJEA, NJAEA offers valuable professional development opportunities. It hosts a statewide student conference each spring, and NJAEA members attend the NJEA Convention alongside current NJEA members.
To help your favorite aspiring educators sign up for membership, visit njea.org/njaea.