"What Teachers Make," by Taylor Mali 

Now: I make kids work haarder then they ever could. to get a C+ feel like a Congrestional medal of hornor and make a A- feel like a slap in the face... This is beautiful.

Very true. Honestly, the world is nothing without teachers, and people seem to KINDLY FORGET that. Doctors, physicists, writers, lawyers, all of them had to learn from someone. And it wasn't a book. It was us, teachers.

I can say with certainty that this is dafenitely beeuteful.

I am currently about to start my practicum 1 as an elementary education student. The workload is a lot, and the assignments are becoming more difficult. Almost everyone I tell my plan to have some choice words about this profession that I always just have to brush off. I have always wanted to be a teacher for every reason that was shared in this speech. His words move me in a way that brings up raw emotion and motivation reminding me why I feel passionate about this. I plan to watch this every day. Thank you Mr. Mali!

I remember my freshman year of highschool when my teacher showed us this video. I went home and watch as many of your poems I could it inspired me to like the finer arts of English it added teaching to a list of jobs I may want. To me its not about its about doing what you love thank you for helping me see that.

I am not a teacher, but have been inspired by many, and disappointed by others (just like every other profession). The fact that teachers do not generate income equal to doctors, lawyers, etc. means nothing other than we owe them much more respect and thanks for taking on the task of educating our kids.

I saw this video a while back, but just rediscovered it - amazing delivery of a meaningful and eloquently written poem! It is all the more relevant now that I am studying to be a teacher of Science and Geography ! Thank you for your inspiring message.

When I have a tough day or week at work as a teacher, I come here and listen to this. It's been quite a week with a lot of issues, but I know I make a difference.

that was one hell of a speech. I feel that I am a better person because of some amazing teachers I had in High school. The world needs more people like Taylor Mali

I've just watched this so many times. I'm a senior in high school about to go to college as an English major, though the only way I was able to choose that major was to convince my parents I could go to law school after. THough, this quite possibly has inspired me to become a teacher after all.

Thank you Taylor! I have to return to this video every now and then just to get the "juices" flowing. So many of us work in anonymity, teaching the students that our "system" has written off. I have students from all corners of the country that come to our center(Jobcorps). Many are frustrated that they have to take a Reading class because they were under the impression that their "classroom days" were over. I have to inspire and gain trust, not an easy accomplishment, and convince them that Reading is important. We celebrate our accomplishments and I enjoy giving out those "Congressional Medals of Honor". :')

I am graduating soon with a degree in Elementary Education and this gives me hope that some people still understand the struggles. Every day when I see my students it makes my day better because I know that they look up to me and I know that I will somehow enhance their day as well. I am going into teaching because that's what I LOVE. I hope to make it so that tests are not the be all end all and that grades are nothing more than a letter. I WILL make a difference, no matter what anyone says.

I love this poem! I love The passion of the poet!!

The real teachers version was epic. Moved me to tears. Thank you.

This is ALWAYS my favorite!!!

Never remove this video from the internet. 14 years I have been coming back and feeling inspired every time.

Oh man. I literally teared up. This is a video everyone needs to see. Thank you for putting everything into words.

I'm literally clapping my hands at the end of his words.......and i forget that i'm in the office.This dude truly dope!

watched this for my theatre class and now doing a paper on you! i loved this one out of all the others i watched! "teachers make a gotdamn difference, what about you" hit hard!!!

I'm pretty proud that my husband pushes kids and parent to their max - he has received some great notes from both kids and their parents each year. Kids have to experience risk, failure as well as success in his class. Yes I do believe he is someone who "makes" a difference.

Mr. Mali: you, your words, and all the badass teachers of the world are definitely beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.

I used to watch/listen to this at 5:00 am every day when I was student teaching and in my first year of teaching. It truly gave me the courage and energy to go there and do my best to teach kids as best I could. Thats something I'll never forget.

I am in school to be a teacher and every time I get into a slump and feel like maybe I should be doing something else, I refer back to this poem. And them I remember why I want to teach. I want to make a difference. Thank you Taylor Mali for reminding me what I am meant to do in this life!

I was such a little f*ckin' arrogant b*stard back in high school. Thank you Mr Mali for this lesson. Thank you to all my teachers who taught me reason, wisdom, humility, tenacity, vision, calculation, aspiration. I hope to one day live up to the example my teachers provided.

Zen Pencils.

I love your video and your poetry. You're really devoted, and seem like an awesome teacher to have. I see you as a model teacher, and hope to teach and make an impact to children and teaching like you.

This gives me shivers and chills when I watch it over and over again and again, I love it, and whenever I get a chance, I share it with other friends and teachers of mine. I've been really blessed to have some amazing kick-ass teachers who have really driven me to what I am today. Teachers are some of the most important, and least appreciated jobs today, which is a crying shame because they mean so much. One great teacher can be the change of a butterfly's wings that make all the difference

This poem makes me cry every single time I watch it. I wish more people appreciated teachers, and more teachers were like Taylor. Thank you for bringing such beauty, love and compassion into our world!

Goddamn beautiful. Thank you zenpencils for showing me this.

I don't think teachers get the respect they deserve. I'd rather hang around them than my peers at school. These are probably the most brilliant people I've ever known and have the most courage I've ever seen from any adult in my entire life. They step into fights for us, they give up their personal time for us, they support us more than some parents support their own children, they are ALWAYS there for us. Hell, they're the reason I'm becoming a teacher.

I share this with my teacher friends every year and have ever since I first saw it maybe 5 years ago! :)

Awesome!! I have taught in various ways.. And I, too have made people cry. Not for being mean, but for expecting MORE! Why does that always make them cry? Money is not everything. The payoff is the ahhhhaaa moments you see in a students face. PRICELESS! God bless! AND CONTINUE TO MAKE.

I would submit that many more teachers make a difference in a positive fashion, than those who do not. Like many other elements of the profession, the credit is rarely given. I think the lawyer in Mr. Mali's poem is the rule and not the exception. Teachers are not respected outside the field of education because they are not given much respect within the field of education. Teacher's are attacked by individuals who have no idea how or no desire to, do the job. However, make no mistake about it, it is an ESSENTIAL undertaking. I also think that the "what do you make" statement is speaking about more than just financial concerns. I was a teacher in one of the most distressed areas in the United States (East St. Louis, Illinois), and many people have asked me the same question. People speak about salary, but the most important element that they were concerned about my 'making', was a difference. Candidly speaking, I know I made a positive difference. Callooh, Callay, Mr. Mali!

Thank a lots, you've made a big change in my mind, i will love our career - teacher more than ever. Thank you so much!

I've watched this probably 20 times. I get goosebumps every time.

My grandmother taught for 27 years from a wheel chair before she retired and when she was lying in the hospital dying I literally lost count of her past students that came to see her and tell her the difference she made. We had to start turning people away there were so many of them. This video makes me think of her. She made people want to learn and want to succeed. Thank you. This is beautiful and what you do for kids every day is astounding.

Me, at my dog who keeps whining at the backdoor: "Why won't I let you go to the bathroom? Because you're bored and you don't really have to go to the bathroom, do you?"

I still get goosebumps every time I watch this. Amazing.

thank god for teachers. especially ones as passionate as Taylor Mali. thank you!

As an aspiring teacher, this struck home. I feel this really says all that we teachers strive for, and all that we care for. The kids. Thank you so much for getting this out there. You remind me of the kind of teacher I want to be. One that makes a difference.

Never get tired of watching this.

One of the best monologues I have ever seen, and one of the best things ever said about teachers. Bravo!

It's always the jobs that matter the most that always gets paid the least. I delved into my teacher's personal lives in high school, as I wanted to know which one of my teachers deserved my respect, and the ones who could earn it also earned my undivided attention. Was this by choice? No... but by the mere passion in which they held their title, "Teacher" and in which the authoritativeness they lacked, and the friendships they could form... and yet, without acting tough, I listened, and I loved.

Great. Every teacher I know appreciates this.

As a math teacher at a special needs school I make a difference along with ALL of my colleagues who make a difference along with me!!!!! It doesn't matter if your a math teacher, elementary teacher, middle/high school teacher, special education teacher, p.e. teacher, college professor.... YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!! Where would all the lawyers, doctors, therapists, surgeons, veterinarians, and ALL OTHER PROFESSIONS be without teachers........ I ask??? NO WHERE !!!

The best ode to all who say that awful thing about those who can't - Way to go, Man!

It is all the more relevant now that I am studying to be a teacher. I like it.

I almost forgot about this absolute gem

Thank you! You're words makes all the difference

It is things like this that make me know that following my dream to be a High School English teacher is worth it. Nothing will stop me once I am in college in pursuit of this dream.

I had great teachers and when I was working at a Private Jewish School as a Comp Tech, I had to set this up for meeting the teachers were having after school and could not listen to it enough. Had to thank my teachers that I had on FB

I'm so glad that growing up I had awesome teachers that took their jobs seriously

ok so i think i' ve watched this video for the 20th time in two days. i know the words and the emotions behind, i'm crazy about Mr Taylor Mali. yes i am!!!

Sharing this with absolutely all my fellow teachers who ever felt like the world makes our work meaningless.

This is my favorite video of Mr Mali reciting this poem. In the other ones it sounds like shouting too much. I know it almost by heart now and I can hear him in my head if I say the verses to myself! ❤️

this still makes me well up - thank you, it's brilliant

I just saw an interview that reminded me of this. A journalist asks a 10-12 yo kid: "What do you wanna be when you grow up?" The kid answers: "A doctor." "Great! So how much do you wanna make?" The kid thinks for a second, then responds: "I want to make people feel okay."

so many subtitles and haha still so great. prolly his best stuff right here

Brilliant! Thank you!

God bless you for your videos. I have been a classroom teacher since 1973. I've had the option (several times) to leave the classroom and take some type of administrative position. This I cannot do; my niche is that of a teacher. I wear one of those rubber bracelets on my wrist; it says "I Make A Difference". When I die, I hope that one of my students will get up and say, "Yes, you made a difference". Its the most noble of professions which I would truly makes a difference. Again, my thanks.

You made me cry. Thank you.

He is real and makes a difference. Would that there were thousands more Mr. Malis!

This is my teaching battle cry, Taylor. Thank you!

This was superb. Thank you thank you thank you!

This is absolutely amazing!

Teachers made a difference in my life. Thank you for this for them. :)

Awesome spoken word - "Spoken Truth", in fact :) Thank you for your dedication, clarity and passion. With Gratitude from me to you for simply sharing, Oons x

Taylor I love you, way to speak for all the teachers out there!!!!!

That was awesome. Thank you so much.

what a beautiful poem. and the last two lines are so moving!

Fabulous slam poet clarifies the value of teachers!

Just heard this today and im obsessed!!

Marvellous. Absolutely brilliant!

So good. So good. So gosh darn good.

As a teacher, who, if seen in action, might be compared to the gentlemen above, I can see why you may believe it is a power trip. My eyes, however, have seen a generation of children whose parents do not believe that their kids can be doctors, teachers, lawyers, accountants, restaurant managers, or even graduates. This teacher is simply writing from his perspective. We all need to consider that we all may view teaching and learning from different perspectives. Difference is key.

we need more teachers like you!!!

BURN! Seriously, though. I love this poem. I wish I could have had him for a teacher. I love all his poems.

Will check it out Taylor. That was brilliant. Hopefully, we have more and more teachers like you!

one of my favorites. This one, the the impotance of proofreading and like you know.

i love this poem. Taylor Mali is amazing

I just realized I listened to this 3 times in a row

BRAVO!!! absolutely beautiful

That was definitely beautiful!

Hi Mr. Mali, this poem is awesome! You've indeed made a difference with this poem!

If only all teachers were like him.

Always loved this one

Just like with any profession.. doctors, dentists, lawyers, restaurant owners, builders, real estate agents, electricians.. you are going to find some that are not passionate about their jobs and don't perform up to high standards. As a passionate teacher that makes a difference in the lives of young people, I know that the same holds true for the teaching profession. Please don't scrutinize us all! We don't classify all doctors as bad doctors even though we know they exist!

this is fantastic.

That is so awesome I would love to have him as a teacher and by love i mean join in with the chorus of kids after school saying "Ugh i HATE that guy" but smile to myself when he makes a corny nerdy joke because I get it and on the last day of school leave an anonymous note on his desk saying thanks you really inspired me

It's so interesting to hear a relaxed reading of this poem. I like that the shift down in energy makes the lawyer's part feel incidental, rather than like a catalyst. :-)

My teacher does this poem every year. I love it!

OMG. This is awesome.

his poetry is...well poetic....thats all there is to it.

Me teacher showed me this and when I got home I watched as many of your videos as possible

that was EPIC!

Still my favorite version, Mr. Mali. With Honor and Respect, New Teacher #0942

I never liked poetry until my literature teacher showed us some of your videos.

that was awesome.... I have a teacher that really reminds me of this guy.

Right on Mr. Mali! As a Substitute Teacher, I have taken a lot of flak. "Why even do that?" Is that just a filler job?" Well, I continue on through school, but I see why we need good teachers who give a damn, and for the rest who don't appreciate them....to hell with you! A+ Mr. Mali

This is a great poem!