Looking Forward

As part of Teach for America's Pre-Institute work (AKA-homework), we were asked to write a final short essay describing what we hoped our children and their families would say at the end of the first year. Today, on the eve of my first day at Institute, I thought I'd share my response.

I applied to be a part of Teach for America for one reason: to provide a voice for the 13 million children living in poverty who would otherwise be victims to the shortcomings of our nation’s educational system. The achievement gap is our nation’s greatest injustice, and I want to be part of eliminating this unnecessary problem. I want my students to look at me as a role model, and I hope that they’ll ask me to write them letters of recommendation for those college applications they never thought they’d fill out. I want to give students the support and tools to reach their goals, and I hope that my students and their families both will say that I did.

I know that this task will come with challenges. Two years is a short time to make a big difference, but I’ve learned that with a positive attitude and tangible goals, anything is possible. In my academic, personal and professional lives, I have always set goals and worked diligently toward them until they are met. I enjoy challenges in meeting these goals, and I believe that there are limitless ways to overcome obstacles with the right mindset and attitude. In the face of adversity, an optimistic approach is often the most important tool, and I try to personify this attitude every day. I appreciate and respect the feedback of my supervisors, and I enjoy learning from my peers and collaborating with them on innovative ideas and projects. My hope is that these strengths will allow me to become a valuable, influential and dependable teacher to my colleagues, students, and students’ parents. I hope to learn as much from my students and my colleagues as they do from me.

To me, teaching is not only about making sure students pass their state-administered tests – it’s something much bigger than that. Teaching is about showing students how to collaborate effectively with their peers; it’s about teaching them to take pride in their work; it’s about challenging them to step outside their comfort zone. Most of all, teaching is about inspiring today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders, regardless of economic circumstance. If my students and their families told me that I had inspired them or their student in any of these ways, I would absolutely consider my career as a teacher an enormous success. Of course, I understand that there is always room to improve as a teacher. However, if one student improves under my instruction, that’s one student who would have been left behind if it had not been for my relentless pursuit of results, constant evaluations, self-development, motivation, and overall investment in students’ success.

I am eager to become a part of the important changes happening in America’s public schools together with Teach for America, and I can’t wait to get the ball rolling!