Ask me what profession I admire most, and I’ll probably start by naming several.
Doctors and nurses—because they literally save lives. Farmers—because without them, we don’t eat. First responders—because they rush toward the danger the rest of us run from. Members of the military—because they sacrifice comfort, time, and sometimes their lives for the freedoms we too often take for granted.
Photo courtesy of Duval County Public Schools
I admire all of them. Deeply. But the one profession I admire the most is the one I’m a part of: teachers.
It might sound self-serving, but hear me out.
We don’t teach for the money—because there’s not much of it. We don’t teach for the accolades—because there are very few. We certainly don’t teach for the convenience—because it’s never been harder to do this job well. But despite the shrinking planning time, growing class sizes, and increasing expectations, we show up. Every year. Every day. Often earlier than we’re required to and long after the dismissal bell rings.
Today is the first day of school. In Duval County alone, nearly 9,000 of us are beginning again. Across the country, millions more will do the same. We’ll step into classrooms not just to teach reading, writing, math, science, and history—but to offer structure, encouragement, safety, and hope. We’ll build trust, mend self-esteem, challenge apathy, and try our best to help each student believe that they are capable of more than they realize.
The road ahead is steep. We’ll have less time, more students, and higher demands than ever. And yet—we’re here. Because like so many of my colleagues, I still believe in the power of education to change a life.
And that’s why teaching remains, to me, the most admirable profession of all.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
