Something that I've heard a lot outside of my studies is "if you can't, teach". It baffles me that teaching is the only career that majorities have deemed to be a fluff piece of sorts. There are many challenging and rewarding jobs out there, and being a school teacher is absolutely one of them. The beauty of teaching is that the challenge that one enlists in when they take a teaching position is not necessarily one of physical labor, like someone who works in athletics or construction, nor is it one of financial bravery, like someone in business; the challenge in teaching is the base requirement of molding and responding to the minds of young people. 
 

I feel that a teacher has a multitude of responsibilities, including, but not limited to:

• Provide a safe and encouraging environment for students to try new things, fail, and try again until they find success

• Open a channel of communication for students to make their voices heard, particularly during thematic conversations regarding art, politics, and various social issues