When you grow up with a parent in the teaching profession, you quickly learn the importance of education. And that might seem obvious, like of course having mom or dad as a teacher is going to instill a sense of respect for education.

But it goes beyond the institution of education. It’s not all about curriculum or grades or memorizing facts from your 8th grade textbook.

When you grow up with a teacher for a parent, you understand how important learning is, and how often that occurs outside of a classroom.

You were encouraged to always seek out knowledge. The truth shall set you free, right? Even now, you’re hungry for it. There’s always more to learn. You’re never done. You’re never too old to try something new.

Teachers often say they learn from their students just as much as they teach them. You saw this firsthand. You saw how relationships are symbiotic, how even the smartest person in the room still doesn’t know everything. There’s always room to grow.

You were always reminded that doing things differently from your peers didn’t make you stupid or behind. Your teacher-parent consistently showed you there’s not just one way to do things. There’s never just one path to success. Everyone is different. That’s perfectly okay. And hearing that gave you a confidence you continue to carry.

Being a teacher requires enormous amounts of patience. It requires love and dedication, and a desire to make the world a better place. You grew up with these things ingrained in you.

Patience, tenacity, compassion. You encompassed these traits early on.

Teachers need to roll with the punches. It’s hard work. Kids can be exhausting. They can try your every last nerve. It’s humbling work. Children of teachers see this.

So now, as adults, you embrace embarrassment. You full on lean into failures. Because in failure, there’s a level of success. You know how to get back up when life hands an unfair smack down.

Success doesn’t have a singular definition though. To some, it’s loads of money, accolades, climbing the work ladder. To other’s, it’s joy and happiness. Maybe it’s a combination of multiple things.

But when your parent is a teacher, you are better equipped to navigate the world and whatever specific success you’re going after. If life’s a giant test, you definitely got a head start. After all, your parent had the answer key.