One would have to do some personal meditating to decide whether teaching is the right pathway. As a teacher, one will be put into social situations right off the bat where one needs to be able to handle them effectively. Some examples: job interviews, first day of class, meeting the staff, getting to know your students, coming up with ideas on the spot when you finish your lesson plan early, having to update an activity in the middle of a lesson because it’s not working, having to figure out what to do at the beginning of class when you forget something important at home, having to change your lesson entirely at the beginning of class because the technology isn’t working, frustrating students, students who hate everything, students who flip over desks, students who start a fight in the middle of class, students who tell you to fuck off (yes, even elementary students will do this), parent phone calls, angry parent phone calls, parent-teacher interviews, angry parent-teacher interviews, staff meetings, assemblies, crises, professional development sessions, and MANY MORE.
I’m not trying to scare you, but you will not be able to get away from social situations that could turn awry and you will be pulled into the middle of. You will need to decide for yourself if you are capable. Remember that teaching isn’t a lonely job – there are tons of supports and resources out there; ask for help and move through one day at a time – you will survive if you believe in yourself.
Teaching In Real Life 