This article presents the author's presidential address, delivered at the NCTE Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on November 20, 2011. The author focuses on the powerful stories that define educators. The author's point is that telling one's story is one of the most important things an educator can do for those he/she teaches as well as for the profession. Through telling one's story, educators inform others about the "ins and outs" of their jobs and what they entail. Teaching is not for the faint of heart. Teaching involves having a heart filled with love and steadfastness in addition to a good dose of believing in the capacity of the students and one's self. By telling one's story, one can change the way others perceive what educators do as well as explain the intricacies of the profession.