Educational Research

Dr. Andres Garica

December 10, 2014

Why on Earth did I ever become a teacher!

By: Sandra Y. Soliz

Honestly, being a teacher is a rewarding profession, but it is one of the least appreciated and
valued professions! I guess you can say it depends on who you ask but I have noticed a high
teacher turnover rate and teacher burnout. The dictionary definition for burn out is an emotional
condition marked by tiredness, loss of interest, or frustration that interferes with job
performance. Burnout is usually regarded as the result of prolonged stress (Burnout,2012).
Teaching is one the most stressful jobs I have ever had! Research has found that the teaching
profession has the highest burnout rate of any public service job (Williams, 2001 p.1). Now I
know why teaching has one of the highest rates of burnout compared to any other public service
job. Teaching is stressful, demanding, challenging and it drains you physically and emotionally,
which can cause any one to burnout!
I have had many jobs from being a clerk at a drugstore named Eckerd Drugs back in my high
school days. I have been a secretary, I have worked in an office of attorneys. I worked with
accounts payables, account receivables. Believe it or not I have also worked for the W.I.C
program assisting pregnant women, infants, and children. Last but not least, I worked support
specialist in the Office of Educational programs for the University of Texas-Medical School
where I was in charge of more than a million dollar budget. This never compares to the
responsibility and stress of working as a teacher!
I sometimes wonder why on earth I chose this profession. Growing up, my little sister wanted to
become a teacher not I. She even became a teacher assistant at a school and took some classes at
University of Houston. It is funny how things turned out. She did not want to be a teacher and I

Educational Research
Dr. Andres Garica

December 10, 2014

went through the ACP program to become a teacher. I have had my ups and downs in this
profession as if I am in a non-stop roller coaster! Not everything about this profession is bad, it
does have some perks. I have often wondered though, where is this stress going to lead me?
This is my 6th year as an educator. Sometimes, I feel that I have reached the point of burnout,
which is what makes me reconsider being a teacher long-term.
Since the previous year, I have moved to two different schools. They both have been a drastic
change from the previous district I worked at. I am still teaching first grade but the demands are
greater, more tests, more data, more paper work and the list goes on and on! I work until 6 or
6:30pm many times and on top of it all, I get home exhausted, drained and still have to work
some more!
The difficult challenges are there each day. You go with a good attitude and try to give it your
best but by the end of the day, after so many meetings, staying after school, morning duty, late
duty, return parent phone calls, turn in forms, picture money and so forth, you are drained! Oh,
lets not forget lesson plans, grades and creating your goals for your evaluation with your
appraiser. Just writing about it can make any one feel depressed!!
No wonder once you are so stressed and overwhelmed, you start getting sick. I have gotten so
sick these past two years, its completely ridiculous. I did not get as sick my first year of
teaching. The horrendous amount of stress from work and the putting in long hours and not
getting enough sleep has caused me to become physically ill. I cant even recall how many
illnesses I have had such as: sinus infections, allergies, asthma attacks, bronchitis and even

Educational Research
Dr. Andres Garica

December 10, 2014

pneumonia. The fact still remain that I am expected to submit lesson plans on time and grades,
with no consideration. People, I am not robot, I am a human being!!
Do I sound as if I am in my breaking point? I sometimes experience those feelings that I have
broken down emotionally. Yes, I admit, I have cried because I feel helpless. I need my job to
support my family. I do love teaching and being part of education but the price may be too high.
I also miss spending time with my family, with my 18 year old son and my little three year old
daughter. I need help and support in order not to feel burnt out. I dont want my job
performance to be affected to the point that I become an ineffective teacher. What good would
that be for my students? I dont want to get to the point that other teachers have arrived at, the
point of not caring or showing no interest for their students or their colleagues. They are just
there to get a pay check.
Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? Lets do something to retain highly effective teachers
that want what is best for their students but not at the cost of them burning out and becoming
frustrated, overwhelmed and unhappy. A burned out teacher is not a productive and effective
teacher. Districts need to provide professional support and classes that can assist teachers with
coping skills and having the resources that can help them deal with those everyday challenges.

Educational Research
Dr. Andres Garica

December 10, 2014

References

burnout. (n.d.) Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary. (2012). Retrieved December 9 2014 from http://medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/burnout.

Williams, Cheryl (2001).Combating Teacher Burnout. Retrieved from

http://thejournal.com/articles