Why do I want to be a teacher?

Throughout the course of student teaching, there's bound to be some days that end with the questions, "Why do I even want to be a teacher? Is all this worth it?" I definitely had some of those days about a month ago when things started getting hard for the first time, after hard feedback, after days and weeks struggling to control my class, after days full of tears.
Yesterday was another one of those days. The kids were so restless and chatty, and complained about the smallest things. Some complained about their stick not being pulled from the cup when I asked for a volunteer to explain a math problem and draw it out on the board, even going as far as to accuse me of throwing away their sticks as they hadn't been pulled the past few times. Some complained about not having a designated snack time (they still got their snack. They just had to eat and work at the same time due to having the book fair in the morning.) Others complained that I hadn't taught the material on a test (maybe I didn't teach it as well as I should've, but it was on the study guide we made in class and was sent home over the weekend so they would have several nights to study.) Others complained about not getting extra outdoor recess (did they deserve extra recess? 100% no.) I had my fill of it, and it's probably the most frustrated I've ever gotten with my students. With the combination of exhaustion (#parentteacherconferences #13hourdays), being sick, frustration with my students, and frustration with myself, I spent much of lunch break in tears, asking myself those questions.

But it is worth it.
The look on a student's face when she finally understands multi-digit multiplication for the first time.
When a student tells me he's always struggled with subtraction, but the way I've explained it helped made it click.
The obvious pride of a student when she tells the class the answer to a science question I had asked her to look up at home the night before.
When a student says "Wow. This is so much fun. I like social studies!" during a simulation.
When a parent tells me at a conference that their son (whom I haven't connected with very much) can't stop talking about me and how much he's going to miss me when I leave.
Conferencing with a student on his writing, and seeing the joy in his eyes and his huge smile when I compliment his great vocabulary.
When my highly disorganized and distracted student comes back after leaving at the end of the day because he remembered that he forgot to copy down the homework and asks if he can borrow my planner so he could copy down the homework.
When it comes up that I only have three weeks left, and a couple students initiate a class-wide group hug.

I want to be a teacher because of these moments. I want to be a teacher to help students realize that they can do it. I want to be a teacher to help students discover their potential. I want to be a teacher because kids make me smile and remind me of the simple joys. I want to be a teacher in order to be an advocate for students. I want to be a teacher to help students discover a love of learning.

Only three weeks left. Only three weeks left. Only three weeks left.