Why I Want Tobe a History Teacher

1430 Words6 Pages
Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, wrote something about “the best laid plans of mice and men” often going awry, or words to that effect. He hit the nail on the proverbial head. Consider my case for an example. At this point in my life I might have figured I’d be leaving the maddening world of trade and commerce to fight it out for themselves while I sought seclusion and rest in the shade of a sheltering palm tree somewhere in the Caribbean. Nothing could be further from my mind. I intend to pursue a graduate course of study leading to a Master of Arts degree in History, with my ultimate objective to prepare for teaching high school social studies. It seems a very long time ago that I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. And, having earned CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designation through a mix of public and private experience enabled me to assume financial management and audit responsibilities in a variety of industries and business environments. I recall once reading a poem by Robert Frost in which he talks about two roads that diverge and his having taken the least travelled one, albeit I’ve discovered life is a bit more complicated than that. Sometimes we embark on a course of action that is not our first or best choice, because of being pulled in a certain direction or attempting to react to our environment. I think that is what happened to me. As a product of an educational system largely influenced by a market economy, I became pragmatic-minded and regarded academic pursuit as a means of achieving material wealth. The path I chose was one of expediency, but my first choice was history. That was my passion and remains so to this day. I have steadfastly adhered to the notion that the purpose of intellectual endeavors and the meaning of life are to speculate about the ultimate, to create, and to contribute. That is not to say
Open Document