Trying on careers like second-hand t-shirts

I've been thinking about it, and I think that the thing that worries me the most about my escapades so far in the idea-land of teaching is that everyone is supportive, and that everyone thinks I would make a really good teacher. I'm not exaggerating here. I trust most of them to have the willpower to warn me off if they thought I would make a bad teacher, but I didn't really think about being a good teacher until they stated their opinions on that score. Either they mean it or they're being crazy supportive for reasons unknown and thoroughly nefarious.

I made this list, back before I even did the survey on how to be a teacher, and it goes like this:

I could be a teacher  because...

...I know how to stay up all night grading tests
...I've always been the student that worshiped the teachers, so maybe I can learn to worship the students
...I like having all the answers, and giving them away
...school is structure, and structure is my salvation
...I could be good at it
...when my role is defined, I'm good at people
...tenure is a good prop against failure
...time can't flow backwards
...I can't play game and fall in love with abstractions if I want to live a life, or if I simply want to live
...goal-oriented tasks are my main specialty
...habits of activity are not the same as habits of thought
...I've given up science, but science won't let me go
...I want a reason to get up in the morning
...someone has to teach them, or how will they learn?

I am organized
I have patience
I can cope with bureaucracy
I am a member of the tech generation
I am able to try
I want to try


I WANT TO TRY