This study investigated high school students' perceptions of becoming an educator, discussing how this plays a role in the conditions of education today. Participants were high school seniors attending the South Texas Independent School District Teacher Academy, which offers students the opportunity for numerous hours of field experience in surrounding schools, opening their eyes to the possibility of becoming teachers. Students completed a two-part questionnaire in January 2002 that focused on personal biographical information and factors influencing the decision to pursue a career in education or the decision to not pursue a career in education. Overall, fewer than one-third of the respondents had ever intended to pursue teaching at the beginning of their freshman year. By the end of their senior year, 60 percent still had no intention of becoming teachers. The field experience helped them realize that they either wanted to pursue a career in education or that teaching was not for them. The main influence in deciding to teach was the responsibility of preparing youth for the future. Most respondents realized that it took a very special person to become a teacher and that teaching was a very rewarding profession. Several respondents believed that teaching was overrated. (SM)