I’m an old soul trapped in a teenage body. I aspire to do great things in my lifetime. It’s difficult to harbor these ambitions, and I struggle to subdue my yearning for composing literature. With two jobs and many honors courses I am forced to put off my “hobbies”. Every subtlety in my life is an inspiration. The pressure of senior year has been a faithful muse.

Over the last twelve months many changes have taken place in my life. I obtained my driver’s license, and consequently a part time job. My parents gave me the hard truth about time management and cutting out ‘social events’ because of distractions.

College has become a suffocating subject in my house. Neither of my parents graduated college. My mother tried, but felt she wasn’t ready to choose an occupation for the rest of her life. Also, the guilt that her parents’ couldn’t afford college weighed heavy. So, she got a job. Twenty five years later all I hear about is how she wishes she had tried harder. My father dropped out not long before he should have received his degree.

He has an alcoholic father, who was barely there for him as a kid. As soon as possible, my father took a job to supplement the family income. Post graduation he started college, but had to give his family the rest of his savings because they were about to lose their home. Funds decreased, he maxed out credit cards and couldn’t get student loans. Also, my grandfather never filed taxes, so my dad wasn’t eligible for financial aid. The military was his only option left, and he pursued a career in that field until he shattered his ankle.

I can understand why they want me to have what they couldn’t. Naturally my first choice of profession is unacceptable because of instability. An author doesn’t really scream payroll and benefits. A more practical choice that suits my interests and abilities is teaching. It wasn’t a career I had thought about until recently. Although, it has become abundantly clear to me that I am ‘teacher material’.

I plan to teach 11th or 12th grade English, and possibly creative writing. Already, my friends say that my decision suits me. People ask for tutoring, and would I edit this or that paper. Recently someone read my notes on the margins of a worksheet and asked, “… Is that Mrs. Coleman’s copy?” Teachers ask me to grade papers during class. I call club meetings to order, and assert leadership roles in group projects.

I need money for college, because my family doesn’t have any to contribute. My furthered education will happen, but it would be ideal for me not to have to work to afford it. The next five years of my life should be dedicated to getting my degree and teaching license. I was born a writer with a dream to change the world. Who says I can’t achieve the same goal through teaching high school English?