While recent headlines have suggested that careers in teaching are down, this does not deter education hopefuls who are looking to make a difference. One of the motivations that many teachers possess is a desire to help their students excel in life, feeling a sense of accomplishment when one of their former pupils does well. Some individuals may see teaching careers as a selfless profession, and a desired position.

Maryland school systems have seen a record in teaching applications, according to the Baltimore ABC affiliate, WJLA. A recent statewide job fair in Baltimore saw 3,200 teachers who had registered for teaching licenses in advance, a huge uptick from two years ago when the number of interested applicants was 800.

The news provider reports that a number of applicants are coming from other states, as many areas are looking to make cuts in their school budget by reducing programs and faculty size.

However, the outlook for teaching careers is expected to improve over time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teaching careers are expected to grow by 13% by 2018.