There is something very different about my employment experience (in comparison with my friends who just graduated with their degrees in education). For starters, I am so very fortunate to have a job in education. Many, make that all, of my very talented "teacher friends" who I have come to love are not planning for their first classroom as I am, instead they are being told by countless school districts that they are "not hiring" due to our education budget cuts.... but that's a whole different story. You see, I am a proud member of the 2011 Teach For America Dallas- Ft. Worth Corps. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to teach in areas where I am most passionate. I am so excited to teach the students others see as "un-teachable" or "failures". Why, you ask? Because I know they are not "un-teachable" and they most certainly are not failures, nor will they ever be with the correct guidance and support along the way. I will be teaching in a low-income high-need community in Dallas. Although my second graders are years away from college, they will learn that college is where they will go, and from there they will go on to be successful, independent leaders making an impact on their community. All these "goals" start young with the understanding of respect, self motivation, and a life-long love for learning. And that is just skimming the surface of what my students will leave my room with. You see, I believe I am teaching SO much more than "state standards". I am teaching the future leaders, and I will prepare them as such. I refuse to allow society to let their zip code and parent's pay check measure who they are or who they can become.
So here I am at my second day of induction, a week long introduction to Teach For America before we ship off to Houston for an intense 5 weeks of Institute, where we learn to be not just teachers, but exceptional community leaders and advocates. To be honest, although I am only a mere 40 miles from my apartment, city, friends and loved ones I feel so homesick already. For starters, I'm getting over strep throat (which isn't fun in the least) and I'm beginning to regret my decision to pack my highest heels (y'all know how much I love high heels.... so it shouldn't come as a surprise that 4 of my beloved pairs came along for my week long "vacay"). Aside from those things it feels weird to be here. Never in my life have I been surrounded by such like minded people. While I absolutely love my Mean Green Alma Mater I find myself standing next to triple majors from Duke, Harvard and Yale and I can't help but almost feel "inadequate", even though I'm the one with the degree in education (TFA is an alternative teacher certification program). (Not to mention where in the heck do you find time to triple major????? Like HOLY COW.) So far I have sat through lots and lots of slide shows about how to build my classroom leadership and form my "big goals". It's a lot to take in and exciting yet nerve-wracking all at once.
As for tomorrow..... I'm headed to visit my school! See my future classroom and meet my principal. Sign all the "important papers" and essentially leave my collegiate chapter behind and become a "big girl". :) I'm here. Finally. Nearly 18 years in the making my dream of becoming a teacher is coming true.
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