why i did teach for america

i never planned to teach, i didn’t study
education, i never dreamed i’d be in a 
classroom. but i heard the statistics of
students who were denied a decent 
education because of the zip code they 
were born in. i saw the numbers and 
heard the experiences and couldn’t 
ignore it. my education is one of my
most prized possessions, and as i
finished my undergrad i knew i had
to give back before diving into my
career. i knew it would be hard, but i
knew it would change and push me
and make me feel like i was making a
difference and doing something 
meaningful. i wasn’t a perfect teacher,
i had hard days, i had hard situations,
but every night i went to bed knowing
i at least helped one student for their
future. i may have taught reading and
math and writing and history, but i
really taught my students that someone
cared about them and that there
are so many possibilities open to them —
something they truly didn’t seem to know.
i taught them life skills, confidence, &
people skills & got to know them. i heard
about their friends and weekends 
and families and worries and favorite
things. i came to love them and although
i am ready to move on from this experience,
it will stick with me forever. it changed
my perspectives and opened my eyes.

“i believe that education, more than anything, 
will change this world. it transcends party 
lines, divisions between culture and country–
it is the great equalizer… in the best possible way.”