What does it mean to be a teacher?

According to Merriam-Webster the literal definition of a teacher is one that teach; especially: one whose occupation is to instruct. We already know that, right?

Professor Macbeath wants us to explain the essence of being a teacher in our own point of view. So for the purpose of this topic a teacher would be a person engage in teaching profession in primary and secondary education. I used to think that there is a fine line that separates teachers from one another; that would be the entitlement. In our country there are teachers and there are registered professional teachers. The difference is that the latter has successfully passed the licensure examination for teachers, while the former does not or he or she has not taken the exam yet.

But now I thought how silly what idea was. Passing a licensure examination does not make you a better teacher; it just shows that you have grasped the necessary knowledge that is required in a teacher. But the application of that knowledge in order to determine how good you are as a teacher would be examine through years of experience.

Back to topic on what does it mean to be a teacher? Personally, I think that the real meaning of being a teacher is someone who are able to touch(inspire) his or her students and help them towards the path that eventually would make them a better person than us. What we are, what we have attained should only be used as example but the final outcome should be much better than the example. And that I think is what being a teacher means to me.

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car ?I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." - - Forest Witcraft

C.J. Dela Cruz RN