Should You Become a Teacher? + Quiz

Deciding whether or not to become a teacher is a hard choice.

You’ve heard how stressful the job is, and how people are burning out, and even quitting.

But at the same time – you can’t let go of the idea of being a teacher. You feel drawn to the idea of:

• working in a classroom
• inspiring children and youth
• helping students learn and improve
• being apart of their school experience

You know that there are many pros and cons to being a teacher, and don’t want to get into something that isn’t right for you.

I was once in your position, and I know what a decision you have to make.

As a teacher who worked in the classroom for almost a decade, and now a fulltime writer, blogger and coach – I’m going to give you:

• signs that you would make an awesome and effective classroom teacher to any age group
• a quiz to find out how well you may thrive in today’s classroom environment
• alternate teaching-related careers in case you determine that classroom teaching isn’t the right fit for you

So, let’s jump in – here are signs that it’s worth it for you to become a teacher, plus a quiz!

8 Signs That You SHOULD Become a Teacher

How many of these signs resonate with you? If it’s at least half of them, then I think there’s some potential. But don’t forget to take the quiz below to get a better idea if you should go into teaching

1. You listen attentively to the perspectives of others

Listening isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we think about being a teacher, but attentive listening is actually a really important skill to being an effective teacher.

There’s the teaching part, and then the other part – which involves listening, assessing, analyzing, conflict resolution and problem-solving.

As a teacher, you’ll need to listen to the perspectives of many different people – students, their parents, your coworkers, your admin, the list goes on.

2. You care about education

There are so many social justice issues in the world today – racial, gender and income inequality, climate change, healthcare, etc.

Quality education is something that you care about. It doesn’t mean it’s the only cause that matters to you, but its something that you genuinely want to contribute to.

3. You adapt well to change

You are someone who is flexible to adapt to new or unplanned situations. When things don’t go as planned, you’re quick on your feet to think of an alternate way of doing things.

Things often don’t go as planned when you’re an educator.

Whether it’s a class shuffle, a change of admin, change of subject or school, a new student, a schedule change – circumstances often change; sometimes without notice.

4. You don’t completely shut down under pressure

It’s not that you never get stressed at all – you’re in touch with your emotions, and you know your limits.

But you’re also fairly good at reflection problem-solving and know when to take a break.

The classroom environment of the mid-2020s can be hectic – kind of like working in a fast-paced, noisy restaurant.

You’re someone who copes well with stress and pressure. You’re able to break problems down into manageable pieces, and solve them individually (and you can do this while tuning out distractions!)

5. You have an extroverted personality

There are few moments to yourself when you’re working as a school teacher. You don’t feel drained after working or spending time with people all day.

If anything, you find it energizing most days.

Would you be exhausted after a long day with 30+ kids? Sometimes but you also find it to be your calling. It’s what you want to spend your days doing, and couldn’t imagine it any other way.

By the way – introverts make excellent teachers too, but they’re also more likely to drain their battery, and need to work harder on self-care to manage the demands of the job.

6. You’ve spent time with kids, and you generally enjoy being around them

The fact that you like and get along with kids is a good sign that you’ll be a good teacher and enjoy being in the class with your students.

Yes, kids can be exhausting, and a handful. But to you, they are also fascinating, hilarious, curious and interesting – and you want to spend your days working with them.

7. You’re interested in your chosen subject(s)

You have a subject (or multiple subjects) that interest you that you like the idea of teaching them to young kids.

Whether it’s math, gym, art, music, a foreign language or mental health education – you can’t wait to bring your passion for these topics to the room and inspire the next generation.

8. You want to teach

There are so many reasons to find teaching as a career appealing – summers off, secure employment, very good pension and benefits.

However, you’re not going into teaching for those reasons. You actually like the idea of being at the front of a classroom, teaching a room full of kids.

FREE Quiz- Should You Become a Teacher?

You know that many of the signs are pointing you being great at teaching, plus you’re interested in education. But is it really the right step for you? Find out in my free quiz below.

Grab a pen and paper. Write out the numbers 1 through 5. Next to each number, write the letter that corresponds with your answer to each question below (a, b, c or d). Afterward, follow the score sheet to count up your total number of points and read the results below.

Some of these questions are behavioural-style, and have nothing to do with teaching itself. However, they help you assess how you respond to certain situations, which could indicate how you will enjoy and be able to handle school teaching.

Should I Become a Teacher? Quiz

1. I expect school to be ___________.

a) Pretty similar to how it was when I was growing up
b) Very different from how I was growing up
c) I’ve recently spent time working or volunteering in a classroom so I know what a classroom is like
d) I have no idea or expectations

2. You spend months planning a surprise birthday party for your mom. An honest conversation with her after the party reveals that she didn’t really enjoy that kind of party, even though you spent a lot of money and time on it. How do you feel?

a) Unappreciated
b) Disappointed that I didn’t know what kind of party she actually would have liked
c) Annoyed. She often doesn’t appreciate the effort that goes into things
d) Thankful (that she could be honest with me.) At least I know for next time

3. Your manager shares that someone on your team has quit, and he needs you to pick up some extra (paid) slack. You end up working a full weekend of overtime and go above and beyond so that the business doesn’t suffer. When you see your boss on Monday, they are very quiet. He doesn’t mention your efforts, say thank you or mention the extra pay. (Which seems out of character of him.) How does this make you feel?

a) A bit confused – did I do something wrong?
b)I’m only really concerned about the extra I was promised for the extra hours. I don’t worry about what the manager is thinking about, I just wonder what the plan is for my extra pay.
c) Honestly, a bit annoyed. I busted my butt – I deserve at least a thank you, as well as when I’ll be paid for the extra hours.
d) It’s off-putting, and I’m a little concerned (about the lack of communication, and how about how they’re acting out of character.) I hope that nothing is wrong.

4. How do you handle your manager not bringing up the extra hours you put in? It’s been a few days now and they haven’t said anything about the extra pay that you were supposed to earn.

a) I don’t overthink their lack of communication on this, they’re probably just busy. I just approach them in person to remind them about the extra pay.
b) I approach them first to ask what’s wrong, with plans to ask about the extra pay as well.
c) I put off talking to them, because I’m nervous or some other reason. I just hope they bring it up soon.
d) I send a text or email, so that I don’t have to talk to them in person – awkwaaard!

5. Your sister asks you to watch your 2-year-old nephew for the day. You’ve never been around a toddler before. How do you plan to spend the day?

a) The day is about survival and getting by. I figure out which games and TV shows I should download to keep him entertained
b) I don’t plan. I know my nephew enjoys, so I think I can just wing it
c) I plan 1-2 activities, such as a walk to the park, and a snack. Other than that, I leave the day open for what comes up
d) Yikes! I call my mom for help.

Scoring

1. a = 1 b = 3 c = 4 d= 2
2. a = 1 b = 3 c = 1 d= 4
3. a = 3 b =3 c = 1 d= 4
4. a = 3 b = 4 c = 1 d= 3
5. a = 1 b = 2 c = 3 d= 4

16 to 20 points: The school boards need someone like you!

You sound like a natural leader. Not someone who will inspire only students, but your fellow co-workers as well. People like you tend to boost staff morale through your empathetic and energetic attitude.

Yes, people can be difficult sometimes. But you are fairly good at looking at problems with a problem-solving focused way without letting the nitty gritty get to you too much.

You seem like someone who will manage the stress well, and ensure work-life balance for yourself as a teacher to keep yourself strong for the job.

12 to 16 points: You should give teaching a decent chance

I bet that you will be an awesome teacher, and think it’s something you should consider.

I want to stress that there will be situations that will stress you out. Being aware of these things beforehand is a good way to

8 to 12 points: Teaching won’t come easy, so you should weigh the pros and cons

You have the potential to fair well in the classroom today, especially if you live in an area with ‘good’ schools.

I am not sure how you’ll manage if you encounter a lot of stressors, which are possible in teaching. In order for teaching to be sustainable in the long run, you need to learn how to not let things like a pushy parent or bad behaviour get under your skin.

By the way, there’s no shame in this – if I had taken this quiz 10 years ago when I was trying to get into teaching, I may have scored somewhere in here too.

And that’s a big part of why I didn’t last in the long run. I let the job get the best of me, and I wore myself too thin. Make sure you are equipped for the potential potential hurdles before investing a bunch of time and money in becoming a teacher.

5 to 8 points: You’re not ready for teaching yet

I’m a big believer in a growth mindset. You may not be ready for teaching right now, but that doesn’t mean the idea is completely out of the cards – especially if it’s something you’re interested in.

You can learn the mechanics of pedagogy in teacher’s college, but one thing they don’t teach you is emotional coping with stressors; difficult parents, micromanaging admin, and challenging co-workers.

A big thing you need to consider is that teaching can be a thankless job will bring many challenges and I recommend being sure you’re emotionally equipped before taking it on.

If Classroom Teaching Isn’t For You..

If you received a lower-end score (5-12 points) on the quiz above, then I don’t think it necessarily means that you shouldn’t go into teaching.

But, it may mean that you could use some inner work and therapy to assess your responses to triggers and problems (in life and in the classroom) that arise.

The classroom environment can really push your buttons. Teachers in 2025 need to have excellent confidence and communication skills in order to navigate a lot of these issues.

Read my post on why teachers are quitting to get an idea of what today’s teachers are up against.

If you’re passionate about education, you could consider education-related jobs that aren’t teaching.

Final Thoughts on If You Should Become a Teacher

I hope that this article has given you a better idea than you had before as to whether you should pursue teaching or not.

If you decide it isn’t for you, or for whatever reason it doesn’t work out – remember that teachers have so many transferable skills that can translate into other jobs, and there are so many alternative careers for teachers where they can use their natural talents in a way that doesn’t burn them out.

Read my article on what alternative careers I recommend to teachers, or wannabe teachers.