How do teachers influence students to pursue a certain career path? Many students don’t truly realize the power a teacher has to influence students into a future career, and sometimes teachers don’t either. Is it the way they teach, the way they act, or something more? My chemistry teacher, Mr. Maggi, and my anatomy teacher, Mrs. Hale, have personally influenced me to pursue a career in the science field. Although I am still undecided on what exactly I want to do, I’m torn between two jobs. But besides that, my chemistry and anatomy classes have truly influenced me to be who I want to be in the future. 

Building a strong relationship with a teacher can make all the difference in how much a student enjoys a class. When students feel encouraged and supported by a teacher, they’re more likely to not only engage in the class, but be influenced to pursue a career in that certain course. A close knit connection with a teacher creates a comfortable environment in the classroom, which can allow students to ask questions and dive deeper into material. This kind of connection can help students build passion for a topic, which may lead to them exploring and learning more about it in college. 

The way a teacher presents material in a class can influence the way students shape their experience in a course, as well as the level of interest that they make take long term. Research shows that when teachers bring enthusiasm to the course, students feel more motivated and captivated to not only do well in the course, but to actually enjoy it. This connection between the passion of a teacher and student can be crucial, even if they do not realize it. For example, chemistry teacher Mr. Maggi is known for his stern, yet very engaging teaching style, and the way that he relays his information. I asked him if he thinks its his coursework or his teaching style that influences students to pursue a career in his course, and he responded, “Both. I believe that it really opens the eyes of kids who didn’t realize the potential they had before, and it’s also the way that teachers feel so passionately about the course that creates that influence for students to actually go into a certain career field.” 

I interviewed my anatomy teacher, Mrs. Hale, and Chemistry teacher, Mr. Maggi, about how often students contact them after they graduate, how it makes them feel, if that inspires them to reach more kids when that happens, and if they think it is the classwork or the teaching style that influences the outcome of a student in the future. Mrs. Hale stated that she, “…has not had any students contact her yet, however, I will not be surprised if something happens soon.” She also says that, “Students have felt inspired by [her] and many have gone into the Sunlake CNA program as a result.” Additionally, she feels, “…very rewarded to know that [she] made an impact, and that this feeling is truly payment for teachers.” Mr. Maggi, on the other hand, very often has kids reach out to him, and said that he even, “…print[s] out and keeps the emails that I receive.” When I asked him if it inspires him when students reach out to him, he said, “I do what I do regardless of what happens, nothing more or less,” which really shows the determination teachers have to teach their classes with passion.  

So do teachers really influence students to go into certain careers? I believe so, and I think it’s because of 3 main factors: the passion a teacher feels about a subject, the type of relationships they have with students, and their teaching style and classwork. By interviewing teachers that not only have a significant meaning to me, but who are also known for their stern yet influential teaching style and unique classwork, I was able to get insight into how teachers truly feel about their courses and why they think students reach out to them after their course.