Teachers can do more than teach

Let's start with a great piece I found at the San Jose State University College of Education:

What a Teacher Makes

(If this doesn't work, try the original PDF version)

With so many barriers standing between people and their dreams, it's difficult to maintain the motivation to necessary to overcome those obstacles and prevail.

I am about to graduate from college with a journalism degree. I've enjoyed learning about the field throughout myc ollege career and there was never a doubt in my mind that I could be a great journalist.

The hard part, however, is that there are a lot of other people that feel this way as well... and many of them actually do become great journalists. This in conjunction with the limited number of journalism jobs is extremely off-putting to me. It's a fact: print journalism is dying, newspapers aren't as popular now that online news is available, and even amazing writers are getting laid off from reputable newspapers.

Although I would consider myself a very driven person, I found myself greatly discouraged by the state of the journalism industry today. I only want to work for a newspaper; the idea of doing PR or marketing makes me sad because I know I couldn't put my heart into something like that. I want the work I do to be meaningful and helpful, not just something to earn me money.

During my internship exit interview with my department's internship advisor, whose classes I had also taken, I discussed these concerns with her. She asked me what I planned to do after my year with AmeriCorps, and I told her I would likely continue my work on a teaching credential in case I couldn't find any journalism jobs. I said I wasn't sure I could handle the competition within the field; there are a lot of talented people out there, trying to get a job like I am.

It turned out that my advisor had never taken a journalism class before she entered the field, starting with internships and working her way up to becoming a war reporter. She was an English major but found her love within the journalism industry. If it was something I knew I loved and could do, then if I didn't have any doubts, then the other barriers could be more easily overcome. She also expressed her confidence in my writing abilities and reporting skills.

According to a Men's Health survey, a little more than 50% who attended college felt they had a professor they would consider a mentor. I don't think any professor had ever had such an impact on me before, but after that meeting, I felt much more ready to take on the journalism world, no matter what it takes. I may not find my dream job immediately, but I know I can do a great job and am willing to take the time to work my way up to where I belong.