When I was a student, honestly, I used to look at teachers and think — why would anyone want to be a teacher? I mean, you don’t get paid much, and yet you’re expected to go out there and guide the youth of this country. And not just guide, but actually inspire. The job description doesn’t tell you how much energy, motivation, and even patience it really takes.
Because teaching is not just about knowing your subject and delivering it. No. You have to prepare with the learner in mind. You need to guess what roadblocks they might hit, what doubts they might have, and even what unrelated-but-connected questions might pop into their heads while you’re teaching. And sometimes, you don’t know the answer. Saying “I don’t know” in front of a class takes courage, but that’s how it should be. Teachers don’t need to act perfect. We’re human. Students should see that too.
And beyond teaching? There’s the syllabus, exams, evaluations. Then there are cultural activities, sports, mentoring, research projects… things that aren’t written anywhere in the job description, but you do them anyway. Because you want your students to learn, to explore, to push themselves a little more. That’s what makes the role so much bigger than just “a job.”
For me, teaching became more than work — it felt like a calling. I’m only a few years older than my students, but still, I’ve seen enough of society to feel like it’s my responsibility to guide them in the right direction. And yes, I do believe in that Spider-Man line — “with great power comes great responsibility.” That’s how I’ve always looked at it.
But here’s the other side of it: the financial growth in teaching is limited. There’s only so far you can go. And I started realizing — if I want to improve my lifestyle, if I want to grow, I need to make a switch. That’s not easy, because I genuinely love teaching. I can’t just leave it behind.
That’s when I found Instructional Design. It feels like a bridge — it allows me to stay connected to what I love. Sure, I won’t always stand in front of a class anymore, but I’ll still be designing learning, creating content, using my teaching experience to make education better in a different way. And to me, that still feels like purpose.
Because at the end of the day, whether it’s in a classroom or in a corporate setup, my goal is the same: to help people learn, grow, and find direction.