Personality types
Successful teachers are likely to be ENFJ personality types. ENFJ’s, or sometimes called ‘the mentor’, are forward-thinkers. They enjoy serving the community and can always see the potential in other people. They want to focus on the possibilities of growth for others, which is absolutely essential qualities for high school teachers who must strive to help every student grow.
Accomplishment and mastery
In general, teachers will feel a high sense of accomplishment and mastery when they help students to achieve the correct grades and become the best version of themselves. However, teaching really isn’t an easy job and teachers can face a lot of scrutiny throughout their career. This might take away some of the sense of accomplishment and mastery. On top of this, not all children are willing to learn and this may diminish a teachers sense of accomplishment and mastery.
Meaning and contribution
As mentioned previously, teachers play one of the most important roles in our society. Without the hard work and dedication of teachers, society would not be able to progress in a positive way. Teachers play a hugely meaningful role in inspiring each generation and preparing them from the big wide world.
Life fit
In general, high school teachers will work during school hours when students are present. On occasion, they may have to meet with parents, students, and other teachers before and after school. Teachers will often spend time in the evenings and on weekends grading papers and preparing lessons. Teachers who coach sports or advise clubs generally do so before or after school. Based on this, it could appear that being a teacher doesn’t offer the greatest life fit.
However, most teachers work a traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer and a short midwinter break. This leaves them with long holidays to spend with family and friends.
Who will thrive?
Teaching requires a lot of patience. To thrive as a teacher, you will also need to have qualities such as:
- Adaptability, as teachers will be faced with constant change. This change can be in the different students each year or changing expectations and curriculum
- The ability to remain calm in stressful situations, as high school teachers will have to keep their cool when dealing with disobedient teenagers
- Mental strength, as students can be challenging and difficult and in order to thrive, high school teachers must be able to see through this
- The desire to graft during school term time, as although high school teachers have long summers off, they will work long days during term time and must be committed and prepared
- Finally, to thrive high school teachers need the genuine passion for education and improving the lives of students. Without this, they may be ok teachers, but they will never thrive and be successful
Who will struggle?
Rather obviously, you will struggle as a teacher if you don’t like children. Similarly, if you have no real passion for education and shaping the future generation, then you are likely to struggle as a high school teacher. A lack empathy and patience is also not beneficial to teachers, who will have to work with challenging and demanding children. On top of all this, those who do not thrive and enjoy interacting with others will ultimately feel drained and uninspired by the amount of social interaction that occurs when working as a teacher.