<p>Ok, I'm not from India, but my parents are and I'm born in the United States. My parents are WONDERFUL parents, pretty open minded compared to other Indian parents. They're also good with grades- they were estatic when I got a B in math one term, and are always like "don't compare yourself to others" and everything. :))
BUT my dream is to become a special education teacher- I've always wanted to be a teacher, but I always thought that I would have to become a doctor or engineer because of my ethnicity. But I've been thinking over the past year and realize that I truly want to become a teacher. When I told my parents, they didn't like the idea. They are mainly worried about the pay not being enough, but I can also tell that they are worried about prestige. My sister is going to med school soon, and my parents tell EVERYONE that and are really proud about it. When my sister was in her junior year, my parents would tell everyone about her dream to be a doctor, but she has only told one person about my dream to be a teacher.
UGH and I was researching colleges, and my mom just rolls her eyes when I tell her I want to go somewhere with a special ed program. She also thinks I'm trying to go the "easy way out" by not majoring in math or engineering or something. So what do it do? I'm touring colleges this summer and I know we're gonna have a major fight over this :((</p>
<p>Be prepared for a fight. :)</p>
<p>No seriously, show them why you want to be a teacher. Whatever you do, don’t give in.</p>
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<p>You will be dirt poor if you follow that path. Just saying.</p>
<p>I can understand how indian parents can be at times, but in the end, they all agree.</p>
<p>I advice you to not change your mind because of your parents or for that matter anyone else. If you really want to do it, do it, you should be glad that you found your passion at an early stage becuse not everyone does. Prove this to your parents and most importantly, dont lose your temper in front of them proving what you want to do, it will only lead to a heated argument.</p>
<p>No one but you know how to deal with your parents. Talk to them as if you really want to do it by heart. I’m sure they’ll support you in the end. Till then, be optimistic. :)</p>
<p>Parents are always right.</p>
<p>I must agree- parents are always right.</p>
<p>Are you sorted financially? Like some huge inheritance/ trust fund. If yes, then become a special ed teacher. Follow your passion then.</p>
<p>So you’re planning on spending upwards of $150,000 to become a special education teacher. Hmm. You’ll probably earn $30k tops. Think about it.</p>
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<p>Personal opinion. No use debating on this. </p>
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<p>Fact.</p>
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<p>I don’t think the guy who said this was kidding. </p>
<p>Me and collegebeckons were having a conversation about this and she’s given some good advice:</p>
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<p>If you are so sure that is what you want for your future, against your parents’ wishes, then promise them you will get your education at minimal cost to them.
That means 2 years of community college, then transfer to the nearest state college with special education degrees.
So cancel the college tours and start taking community college classes so you can get a jump on transferable credits.
There is no fight if you only look at nearby colleges you can commute to and save their money.
They will use the money they save on you to help your sister pay for medical school.</p>
<p>^Fair point.</p>
<p>My parents will pay for school no matter my major. Ok, maybe they wouldn’t let me major in Islamic studies or something, but they will definately pay for special ed. My mom is very religious and believes in service and stuff, so when I told her about my prospective major, she understands where I’m coming from. BUT she’s worried about money/prestige. My whole extended family is into engineering/computors. My sister is on her way to med school. My mom is confused because my sister’s “dream job” is a kindergarten teacher, but she’s extremely excited about med school. It’s just that we’ve had constant arguments about this and I don’t know how to handle it.
Ugh AND I can’t find any decent schools in Massachusetts for SPED besides BU which is gonna be too hard for me to get into. My mom doesn’t want me to go out of state because she’ll miss me and everything.
Also, I’m not exactly the smartest student. I haven’t applied myself fresh/sophmore years, so my GPA was about a 3.6ish. This year I’m more motivated and I’m getting mostly A’s. And my ACT score is a 29 and I"m retaking for hopefully a 31ish. Any school ideas? </p>
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<p>Firstly, I’m a girl if that matters haha 
Oh my parents would NOT let me attend community college.</p>
<p>Let me Google that for you:
Bridgewater State College
Fitchburg State College
Westfield State University
These appear to be undergrad programs in Mass.
Good Luck.</p>
<p>Thanks- the thing is that those schools require a 2.7ish GPA and a 1700ish SAT. I’d like to go to a school that is a match for my grades (which I know are not amazing).</p>
<p>Does being a special education teacher require particular study in the area in undergraduate level (I doubt)? From what I have observed, such areas seem to be pretty flexible in terms of taking people from different majors. An acceptable option sounds like you major in something that is acceptable to both you and your parents and then if, after four years of college, you still feel that Sp. Ed. is where your passion lies, then you could always do a small course in it and continue? Options open up when one really looks. :)</p>
<p>It’s also true that you’ll not be very rich. BUT it’s also true that sometimes, just the satisfaction gained from helping someone else, is enough to fill the heart with happiness and that is what matters. It is foolishness to go for a job that just pays the highest without some sort of passion for it, and ending up with a mid life crises down the road. There’s no point in running in the rat race just because it’s “important” to have money or a job that’s on the “traditional” track…what does that do? It gives you social status? A twang of shallow satisfaction? If you actually analyze, is that even important for your own self in the end? Pleasing and gaining approval of others, most of whom won’t even matter in the end? (I am not at all telling you to be selfish here btw) I think a life’s better lived if you gain some personal contentment…some day when you sit back and think what you’ve done and feel good about it, not just earn money or power, but done to earn actual *self *respect which can only come if you know that you’ve made a difference. Once you decide on this career, don’t listen to naysayers. Don’t pay attention to the fact that your parents are more proud of your sister’s med school admission. You’ll have to be like Arjuna (in the mahabharat). (Although I think you could help children with special needs by becoming a doctor too, and it pays, oh it pays;))</p>
<p>I do think that you should explore and think a bit more in college and then decide. I think what we’re all worried about is that ten yrs down the line, god forbid we find you cursing your naivety and that you didn’t look into the ups and downs of the career before plunging into it. It’s a big decision, so keep your options open while narrowing down college lists. :)</p>
<p>Nice post pixie.
+1 like</p>
<p>I think you will be a better teacher if you get an undergrad degree first in sciences or something as opposed to education and then go into masters for education. By then if you are still interested in special ed, you will be more mature in making that choice.</p>
<p>Couldn’t you get a degree in something other than education, then get your teaching certification or a masters in education/special-ed? This would allow you to keep an open range of possible careers instead of immediately limiting yourself to being a teacher.</p>
<p>I’m in a very similar situation to you, ethnic (Hispanic), I used to want to be something big and grand, like a doctor, but through time, being a teacher has been the one thing I always stick with. I can totally see myself doing it and enjoying it. Perhaps worse, I’m a guy. </p>
<p>My thread about my parents’ apprehension has some advice and info that may help you out, too: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1015931-if-your-son-daughter-wants-become-teacher.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1015931-if-your-son-daughter-wants-become-teacher.html</a>
And then teachers’ pay: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/education-majors/1080967-why-teachers-pay-so-downplayed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/education-majors/1080967-why-teachers-pay-so-downplayed.html</a></p>
<p>There are special ed majors, so i can start teaching after 4 years of school. I can’t just major in science/math and then get certified in a few weeks. Teachers need to be highly qualified which means having a masters or major in the subject area. I am planning on getting a masters while working/in the summers. I hear that school districts like hiring sped certified ppl without a masters because they are cheaper to hire.
I want to go to college to learn about someone that I LOVE. Math and science are easily my best subjects (math the better one), I honestly do not have one ounce of passion for them. When I’m in chem class, I honestly despise the subject and think “well at least I won’t have to go through this in college” I do not believe that a degree in science will make me a better special ed teacher and I don’t want to torture myself for 4 years doing it. I know I am intelligent enough to get a degree in biology or math, but don’t want to do it.
I have the plan that if I do not like special ed, that I can get a masters in speech pathology.
I guess the problem isn’t that my parents won’t let me/won’t pay, because they aren’t those kind of people. The problem is that we aren’t understanding eachother/I don’t want to dissapoint them or have them be ashamed of me.</p>
<p>Oh and seekinguni thanks for the thread- it was really helpful
There is nothing wrong with being a guy and teaching- a lot of young males need a male role model in the classroom because there aren’t many male teachers. So you would be doing a really good thing.
Do you know what you want to teach?</p>
<p>I can see myself teaching something science-related. Since AP Biology is my all-time favorite class in HS so far, I can easily see myself teaching biology or the likes of it. Whatever I do, it’s definitely going to be at the high school or postsecondary level if I do end up teaching.</p>