I had the great pleasure of having this question presented to me by a co-worker.  Seeing as how I work for a company that produces software for educators, I appreciated the chance to really dig in and give some thought to what exactly I felt my career was contributing to.

The answer took me by surprise. Yes, I know... it's my answer, so how could I be surprised by it? 

We live on many levels, some of them conscious, most of them subconscious like instincts and gut-reactions.  If you take an honest look at some of those reflexive impulses and where they come from, you might be surprised too.

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Education is the most empowering experience in anyone's life.

The act of transforming ignorance into awareness within ourselves unlocks EVERY opportunity on the planet.  The sudden comprehension, the nearly audible "click", of disjointed information falling into place – revealing a whole landscape of possibilities – is a rush no one can deny... and a gift that ensures any dream we care to dream can be realized.

Education infects us with curiosity, a viral contagion we can never be cured of and is perhaps the greatest virtue of our species.  Effective teachers awaken curiosity in their students, transforming apathy to interest, ambivalence to passion... and children into adults.  Our education system is the last true rite of passage for our youth.  In a world where we have civilized ourselves into thinking such primitive rituals serve no purpose, the years spent under the care and tutelage of teachers is the crucible in which our minds and spirits are refined beyond childish self-interest and we are given the tools of true mastery of our world (for good or ill).

To me, Education is the gift of lifetimes of wisdom and discovery distilled into a few years of rigorous study.  It is the key to the advancement of our species, gifting our children with the life's work of scholars, scientists, and artists and then releasing them to continue that work.

There can be no more noble pursuit than sparking that flame in the hearts of our children; by that light will our future be illuminated.

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled" – Plutarch