Teach for America

Found at Teach for America.

   I joined Teach for America because I wanted to make a difference. Simple as that. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and the truth is, during my time as a corps member, I've never felt so incapable of making a difference ever before in my life. This job has broken me in more ways than one. And yet, for some crazy reason, I'm considering staying in the field of education after my commitment. Teaching has forced me to come to terms with one simple fact: I don't make a difference. God does. And if there's anything I love about teaching, it's that I am brought to my knees every single day to see God at work in the lives of my kids. That's the kind of job I could do for the rest of my life, whether in teaching or another profession. The kind where God does the work. Not me.

   If you're thinking of applying to Teach for America, or have already been accepted and are trying to figure out whether you actually want to join, here's some food for thought:

• You will be miserable. Yes, miserable. Jumping on the TFA bandwagon means signing yourself up for what will feel like indentured servitude turned into slavery turned hell. Unless you are fortunate enough to land in a decent charter school, or happen to just be awesome already, expect a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. At least for those first three months...maybe four. Maybe five.
• You won't be appreciated. You're kids are not waiting for an awesome teacher to come and save them from the depths of poverty and racism. In fact, the kids in your classroom might just hate your guts. Prepare yourself for daily persecution. Your kids will not appreciate what you are doing, and if some do, they probably won't let on.
• You will not have a life. Teaching will consume your days and haunt your dreams. It will burn up your Saturdays and ruin your Sundays with anxiety over the coming week. This is the reality of being a first-year teacher, and signing up for TFA means signing up to be a teacher (funny how that works). When you find yourself buried underneath a pile of flashcards, remember this.
• You may or may not be teaching the grade-level you expect. A good majority of the people in my region that were assigned to teach high school wound up teaching in an elementary school. If that's where the need is, that's where you'll wind up. Serving with TFA means going where you're needed, whether you like the assignment or not.
• You might never get a masters. Not every region has a university partnership that will cover the cost of graduate school, and the Americorps Grant only goes so far, especially if you need to pay an arm-and-a-leg for certification requirements in your state. Having said that, many corps members do come out of their commitment with a masters. But if that's you're only reason for joining TFA, don't. It's not worth it. There are other ways to get a masters that won't push you to the brink of self-destruction. If that's you're only reason for joining, trust me, you won't last.
• If you're committed to the cause and willing to do whatever it takes (yes, this would be the overused slogan that TFA loves to tout, but it's true), you will do something transformational. Having said this, the change you make won't feel like you expect, and chances are the only recognition you receive will be greater demands from your school.
• Despite the sacrifices, if you love kids and love investing in others, then yes, it is absolutely worth it. You will wake up one morning after you've survived the first half of the year and realize you're kids are worth more to you than the entire world put together. You will feel like you've sacrificed everything. And it will be worth it.