In this study, the author provides a unique perspective on teacher shortage by focusing on teacher retention, in terms of why teachers stay in the teaching profession, rather than focusing on teacher attrition, or why teachers leave the teaching profession. The change in perspective created an opportunity to study the journey of how teachers chose to become a teacher, which is a bridge between inspirations of becoming with inspirations of staying in the teaching profession. The findings revealed that teachers attributed their decisions to enter the teaching profession to destiny, pride, schooling, and motherly qualities. They also reported that they stayed in the teaching profession because of the students, a sense of belonging, a mission, and their hometown. This study contributes to teacher education programs because it raises awareness of how teacher educators could use these rich histories to educate student teachers who endeavor to enter the teaching profession.