Metro Atlanta Institute 2012. Wow. I can't even begin to fathom
the incredible journey I've taken thus far, and I still have a week of
institute left! It's incredible to think I have been teaching summer school for
3 weeks… legit, in front of a classroom! The experience has tested me, stressed
me, and impressed me. I have met some incredible people that I will probably be
close to for the rest of my life! I can't even imagine what Scott thinks I'm
doing or what my family thinks for that matter but maybe this will help explain
a bit more. It started with a week of instruction for us...
5:40am my alarm clock goes off and surprisingly I didn't hit the
snooze. It may have been my nerves but I was up and ready in no time. I catch
the bus at GA Tech to ride to my school site for the first time - King Middle
School, named for MLK Jr. Not knowing a single person yet when we arrive, I am
freaking out in my head. We arrive and walk into a room filled with roughly 35 corp
members and staff. That first day we shared our personal stories with complete
strangers and began to investigate the strange world of teachers, and to my
surprise I was excited, I was ready for the rest of the adventure to begin.
That night I even had an hour long conversation with my aunt (also a teacher)
trying to dig up as much advice as I could, to be the best that I could. That
was the goal to be the best... things definitely change!
The achievement gap seems like such a common sense but there is
sooo much under the surface that most people don't realize. Ignorance is bliss
right? But that's not fair to children, especially those that don't even have
the opportunity to do as much just because a single teacher would not invest in
them. We heard story after story about students who could not read
that were graduating high school (not sure how the teachers passed them!), the
cheating scandal in APS, and even the fact that they predict the number of
needed jails by 3rd grade reading level is outrageous. But it’s all true and it’s
a shame that while our country is focused on passing pointless laws,
fighting unnecessary wars, we have a huge movement on our hands to
change the future of not only our children but our nation! The best nation in
the world and we are struggling to educate our students in STEM... Really? (but
that’s another rant) We also heard story after story of the local community
wanting teachers who were excited, willing, and those that will make change.
That's where TFA steps in, where I think my calling is to...
TFA is pushing for transformational leaders, not only having
students pass classes, but truly changing their future possibilities, AND
having those students advocate for themselves and others. Setting HUGE Visions
and even BIGGER goals! The thing that pushes us over the edge I believe is the
passion, the fire we all have to fix the problem. My spark - Every child deserves to be encouraged and loved to be better. Every
child has the right to be whatever they want, and I may be the only one to
provide that opportunity in their lives. We saw some examples of students and
teachers on that path - it only inspires me further! One Day is Today is the
motto because Every Day Matters!! (I saw a shirt that said Carpe EVERY Diem and
I want it!!)
So that being said, what have I done? How have I grown? What have
I changed if anything? What will I do? So many questions and I think the best
way to answer is just to tell you my story.
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