Why do people teach? Reasons to become a teacher are as diverse as the subjects they plan to teach. Motives range from inspiration drawn from a favorite teacher of their own - to a sense of commitment to community or nation - to an intellectual fascination with a given discipline, such as English literature or the physical sciences. But the most compelling reason to become a teacher is the desire to work with children. Some point to a "calling," a yearning to help children learn, watch them grow, and make a meaningful difference in the world.