Considering a Career in Education? Starter Steps to Take as a College Student

By Uloop Writer on June 16, 2019

Even if you never considered it a possibility in high school or prior years, teaching and education may become a desirable career path for you in college. Personally, I remember all of the stigma that seemed to stick to teaching as a profession when I traversed through public high school. Inadequate pay, undesirable hours and the idea that “teachers teach because they failed to ‘make it’ in their desired career,” were all ideas that covertly floated through the hallways and spearheaded my longing to NEVER become a teacher.

Nonetheless, when I arrived at college I noticed several desirable characteristics of being a professor that contrasted with my previous, admittedly myopic notions.

A professor has extremely flexible scheduling in comparison to the daily seven-hour grind of elementary, middle and high schools. Some professors also work on actionable and innovative research aimed at making a serviceable change or uncovering new understandings. I also looked back at my high school teachers and realized how nice some of them had it with summers off, stable long-term pay increases and consequently, that free time and income gave them the ability to chase their career aspirations outside of teaching. 

via Pixabay

According to a 2016 study conducted by the Learning Policy Institute, “Unless major changes in teacher supply or a reduction in demand for additional teachers occurs over the coming years, annual teacher shortages could increase to as many as 112,000 teachers by 2018.”

In 2019, it seems as if teaching shortage in the U.S. has continued to burden school districts throughout many states. Therefore, there is a major demand for teachers in this country and college students majoring in education-related fields will land a job quickly after graduation.

On top of that, teaching is a gratifying and fulfilling line-of-work that allows you to help others on a daily basis and possibly make a lasting impact on someone’s life. If you are considering a career in education, here are four possible starter-steps you can take as a college student to decide whether it is right for you or not.

Teaching Assistant

Have you received an offer for a teaching assistant (TA) position in a course you dominated by receiving an A? If so, take action because it is a great way to find out if teaching is for you, plus it looks nice on your transcript. Being a TA, you gain insight into how professors plan and prepare for lessons, lectures, class activities and much more. You also gain experience working with struggling students on class material. You build a professional relationship with your overseeing professor and gain experience as an authoritative figure in the classroom.

Online Tutor

As an online tutor, you will gain experience preparing for lessons, answering specific questions and engaging with students one-on-one. There is a greater deal of accountability that goes into being an online tutor because you are the only line-of-defense against questions regarding the material and there is no one to go to for help. In addition, having your work publicly reviewed by clients online is another component of the realistic teaching experience you can gain as an online tutor. Some popular places to apply for are Varsity TutorsChegg Tutors, and Qkids.

Camp Counselor

Although a summer camp may be a more vibrant and fun environment than the classroom, camp counselors still engage in instructional activities and overseeing the safety and cooperation of their campers. Whether working with children or young adults, acting as an authoritative figure and teacher to campers will enrich your teaching background. Camp counselors and teaching assistants also have the ability to receive letters of recommendation from their superiors for future opportunities. Taking a camp counselor position is a great way to decide whether you’d like to get into teaching or not, and even if you decide the teaching path isn’t for you at least you get to enjoy the great outdoors while you find out.

Youth Sports Coach

Becoming a youth sports coach would be a good first step for someone who is more hesitant about becoming an educator. If you like sports then that is a major plus! A coach organizes players, teaches players new skills, plans practices, blueprints plays and demands respect. Becoming a youth sports coach is a great way to find out if you like working with kids and whether you think you could do it as a career. It is also a great way to gain experience as a leader and motivator.

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