Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/755919
walk in. It feels like I've been in a better mood this month. Tea chin g i s n ot a on e-way street. I love teaching high school because it is the crucible where existential and moral questions are explored and debated; it is the place where the teen begins the journey to adulthood. It is an exciting career to share such a journey. I love this work because, even though I am trying to answer the same questions, my adult cynicism and passivity weigh me down. Student optimism and passion remind me how to live the full palette of human emotions and to grasp the immediacy of life. I teach as much for me as for my students, for being a high school teacher is an antidote against cynicism. ere is no philos- opher's stone or elixir of life, but teaching is the path for anyone who wants to remain young at heart. As we find ourselves in an era of retiring teachers and half- empty teacher credential programs, we should ask our best and brightest to consider joining our ranks. ough I meet people all th e tim e w ho assure m e that teaching is a noble profession, we will likely never be afforded the pay or respect of other pro- fessions. However, if one wants relationships, impact, and food for the soul, then it's hard to imag- ine a more satisfying career. After all, it's the career we chose, and students aren't so different from us. Matt Bi ers-A ri el , Wint ers A rea E du cation Association, is the author of the novel Light the Fire, from which this essay is excerpted . He teaches English at Winters High School . See and share with students and colleagues the insightful, illustrated video of this essay at bit.ly/2ejt9lH. 19 November / December 2016 "I TEACH AS MUCH FOR ME AS FOR MY STUDENTS, FOR BEING A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IS AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST CYNICISM. . . . TEACHING IS THE PATH FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO REMAIN YOUNG AT HEART." why this should be the only credit card you reach for The CTA Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit card — NOW UPDATED for even more cash back! On up to $2,500 in grocery/wholesale club/gas quarterly spend* Learn more or apply today! Refer to Priority Code VACOYB 1% cash back everywhere, every time 2% cash back at grocery stores AND now at wholesale clubs, too 3% cash back on gas + $100 7 Reasons and more great features! 1.866.867.6323 www.newcardonline.com cash rewards bonus if you make at least $500 in purchases in the first 90 days** For more information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of the credit card, call the toll-free number above or visit www.newcardonline.com. * The 2% cash back on grocery store and wholesale club purchases and 3% cash back on gas purchases apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter. After that, the base 1% earn rate applies to those purchases. ** You will qualify for $100 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of Purchase transactions totaling at least $500 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit one (1) bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to new customers opening an account in response to this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8-12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. ©2016 Bank of America Corporation CC051216 ARF6SRKR MB1116-AD-CAEDU