9 Surprising Benefits of Being an Education Major

For the 19.4 million students enrolled in college, choosing a major is a significant milestone. But for students without a clear vision, this milestone can be confusing and stressful. Students with a love of helping others might just want to set their sights on a teaching major as an option.

Read on to learn about the nine surprising benefits of being an education major!

1. Spend Your Career Helping Others

When you pursue a teaching major, you put yourself on a path to helping others throughout your life. Many people associate medical professions, such as nursing, with helping others. But teaching is another great option if you don’t picture yourself working in a medical setting.

Best of all, each day will bring a unique set of experiences as you formulate lesson plans and interact with students. You’ll have control over how you manage a classroom and oversee learning exercises.

2. Commit to Lifelong Learning

As a teacher, you embark on a journey of ongoing learning. Every time you present content to your students, you’ll discover different nuances. And you’ll constantly be looking for ways to expand and improve your lesson plans.

Because of the commitment to lifelong learning, you may think that teaching means you’ll be in school forever. But much of the learning occurs informally.

How long does it take to get a teaching degree? You can achieve one by attending a four-year college, but there are accelerated programs for those coming from different fields. A guidance counselor can help you navigate education major requirements to ensure you check every box.

3. See Your Students Improve

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is the ability to see your students improve. You can offer words of encouragement when students are struggling and find creative ways to explain challenging concepts. You may even spend time tutoring students after hours.

While teaching can be an intense and time-consuming job, it can make a significant difference. You’ll be able to see a student master a confusing topic in geometry or learn better ways to construct a research paper because of your efforts. And this sense of persistence will set students up for success in future endeavors.

4. Contribute to Your Community

If you’re an education major, know that teaching is an excellent way to become more invested in your community. You can participate in fundraisers or help plan performances. And many of these activities will attract large audiences of both parents and community members.

Excellent teachers can become celebrities within their communities. You’ll be sought-after for community events. And you can expect to interact with parents and family members at school events.

5. Choose a Secure Job

Teaching offers one of the more secure job opportunities available. As a new teacher, you’ll need to earn your place through positive evaluations. But over time, you may be able to earn tenure, which offers more job security.

With each year, you’ll also be able to secure salary increases and retirement savings. If you love your district as a public school teacher, you could spend your entire career there.

6. Gain Access to Diverse Career Paths

While you might have your heart set on working with elementary school students or high schoolers, there are other options, as well. You can work in public schools or try a private boarding school where you are immersed in campus life.

As for other options, teaching may translate to working in special education or a community college setting. And it could mean working with at-risk youth or volunteering your time at a community center.

7. Increase Your Credentials

After you complete a college major in education, you don’t need to stop obtaining credentials. Once you’ve secured a teaching job, there are many ways to do this while teaching. And better yet, you can add job security and make yourself a better candidate for future positions.

Consider pursuing a masters in education degree to build your skill sets. Additionally, you can set yourself up for better advancement opportunities, including better pay. If you’re on the hunt for a new job, potential employers will notice the advanced degree on your resume.

8. Build a Network of Colleagues

As a teacher, you won’t be working in isolation, even if you’re in charge of a classroom. You’ll have colleagues teaching the same grade level or subject as you. And you’ll have a school full of colleagues ready to support you and collaborate.

Further, you’ll have professional development opportunities. Attending conferences and seminars can be a great way to build connections and develop your approach to teaching. You’ll become a better communicator, as well, if you give presentations and network at these events.

9. Feel Satisfied in Your Career

Whether you pursue a secondary education major or work with younger children, you’ll feel rewarded with a teaching career. You can finish each day of working knowing that you’ve had an impact. And sometimes those seemingly small projects or lessons can direct a student’s career trajectory.

Down the road, you may even have the chance to reconnect with former students. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that your lessons and encouragement helped shape their futures.

Choose an Education Major

An education major can be an opportunity to help others while continuing to invest in your own education. You’ll gain a supportive network of colleagues and opportunities for career advancement. In addition, you’ll have a rewarding career that provides job security.

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