In 2016, the Working In America initiative launched to collect stories from workers across the country to tell us about the challenges and joys of what they do and how they do it.

Join working people across our country who have shared their work experiences by submitting your story at https://working.org/working-stories/

Below are examples of working stories shared by participants—can you relate? What is something about your job that people don't know? What inspires you to keep working?

Share your thoughts at https://working.org

Alison 3rd Grade English & Language Arts Teacher New Orleans, LA

What is one thing about your work that most people don't know?

People don't know that I just want to teach and be appreciated for just teaching. We are often times encouraged to move ahead in schools—becomes leaders early on—without much experience but I just want to teach. I want to be the best teacher that I can be for them.

What makes you most proud of the work you do?

Work to me is about learning. I teach, but I learn and process information at the same time. My scholars are constantly changing my beliefs of what is possible. Their intuition, their creativity, and their spirit encourage me to be better than the day before. I always want to be better for them.

• See more at: https://working.org/story/alison/