January 28, 2011

It was August of 2001 when my dad asked me to visit the new school he had been assigned to. My summer break was still in session, so I decided to join him.

Later that day we arrived in downtown St. Louis at Sigel Elementary School. The school looked like a castle and appeared to predate most of the buildings around it. My dad found a key ring from his pocket and we entered the main lobby. The inside looked even older than its exterior and my voice echoed like in the corridors of a museum. This didn’t look like my elementary school or any school I’d ever been in. My dad started to preach about the kinds of teachers that worked there and the quality of books the students received. He told me about the shortage of technology and the lack of air conditioning. But the latter needed no introduction. Even for a hot summer day, heat seemed to fill the building in ways I had never felt before. I couldn’t imagine being there any longer, let alone spending an entire school day there. I was only eleven years old, but even I knew that this was not a good school.

My dad is in the process of completing his 40th year in education, a feat that most in the profession will likely never reach. After retiring from a suburban school district, he took a job as an administrator in St. Louis city. In almost 10 years, my dad has taken a school with low attendance and raised it to the highest attendance rate in the district. He then added computer labs, central air conditioning and hired teachers with the capacity to inspire, rather than discourage. Since then, he has moved to a middle school and helped successfully transform it into a high school, with a full athletic program.

Growing up, most of my friends went to school and then came home. But for me, ‘education’ was my home. Education is the epicenter of societal growth and helps break down barriers; it is a vehicle for progress and change. Without sufficient education, we simply cannot move forward.

The United States is a world leader in technology and medical advancements. However, despite such growth, our country’s health care system continues to decline, and our delivery of education is failing. Narrowing the gap amongst different socioeconomic areas is crucial in providing equal education. Education is about opportunity and many of the children in low-income communities are simply not provided with the tools to succeed.

This summer I am moving to New York City to further help the cause that my dad introduced me to ten years ago. Teach For America has provided me with an opportunity to help close our academic achievement gap even though I don’t have a degree in education. As a corps member I hope to make a significant difference in the same way that my father has. He taught me that with patience and dedication, one person can create a significant change within a classroom. By the end of my tenure, I will measure my success by the success of my students. I do not only want to see their abilities grow, but their passion as well. Education is not just about high test scores. It is about discovering what you love and finding the means to achieve it.

Your last chance to apply for Teach For America this year is February 4. Please check out TeachForAmerica.org and join me on this mission.