“What are your plans after high school?”

Doctors, orthodontists, police officers, nurses, scientists, engineers, or enrolling in the military are just some careers that students get praised for when asked that question.

But what about me?

When I get asked that question, I get giddy and say that I want to study early childhood education to someday be a teacher.

Rather than getting a positive response and having the person say I will do great at that career, the usual response I get is: “Oh, trust me — you don’t want to do that. You’ll be working the rest of your life and will be miserable.”

Why are we tearing down people who want to impact the lives of tomorrow?

Why are we trying to crush people’s dreams?

Someone has to teach your child how to read.

Someone has to teach your child how to write in cursive, something I plan to enforce because it is important.

Not everyone has the same strong suits, so why are people quick to determine what you should be doing with your life?

I want to be a teacher — that teacher that can change students’ mindsets.

I want to be that teacher students feel comfortable going to if they have an issue. I want to be that ray of sunshine in my students’ lives.

I want to make a difference.

And so what if someone disagrees with my choice?

Not everyone is meant to do the same thing.

Not everyone is meant to go down the same path.

Someone has to be your doctor.

Someone has to be your dentist.

Someone has to be your electrician.

Someone has to be your lawyer.

And most importantly, someone has to be your teacher.