by Andrea
(Cincinnati, OH)
Original Text: Letter of Intent
Education is the use and application of knowledge that has been acquired, whether institutionally or inadvertently; and is the foundation of all things. In this society, we place a high value on the institutionalized education system, yet we turn our heads at the holes in it. Our education system is only as strong as its weakest student; therefore, it should be our duty to prepare and equip our next generation of leaders with the best valuable tools we can regardless of demographics.
Teach For America recognizes the potential of these “at-risk” students and is turning that potential into kinetic opportunity. These students know that they come from low-income neighborhoods. They know that they are being judged based on their socioeconomic background or their skin color. They see, and understand, the resources that are available at the wealthier schools far outweigh what is provided for them. Furthermore, when a child understands that the expectations are low for them, chances are they won’t exceed them; they don’t see a reason to do so. If they feel that no one is in their corner, what reason do they have to fight?
Teach For America fights on behalf of those who can’t fight for themselves by providing a foundation in which to build upon. I want to be a part of that foundation. I want to be the change that I wish to see. I want to help challenge the status quo, and to help students realize and embrace education. I want them to ditch the entire box that has been built around them their whole lives and to play in the universe of possibility. I want them to dream, and turn those dreams into goals; then, turn those goals into conquests. As a corp. member, my first priority is not to teach, but to educate. I don’t want to teach them to memorize facts. I want to educate their entire existence; the development of the whole person—their attitude, their skills, and their mind.
The source of a calling often comes from a difficult experience that one has overcome. Education has been the driving force behind my ambition and perseverance. I know what it’s like to be judged because I came from a low-income neighborhood. I know all too well the feeling of hopelessness and guilt that I harnessed when a wealthier student asked where I lived. My parents ensured that I attended the best schools in my city so that I could write my ticket out—and I did. Along the way, I had the luxury of having some educators who cared about who I was and recognized the potential I had within myself, even before I did. Thus, I feel that it is my obligation to turn around and grab a hand. I know that I have been a successful corp. member when I have positively affected at least one student and they have turned around to help someone else. Each one, teach one.
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Revised Text:
Education is the use and application of knowledge that has been acquired, whether institutionally or inadvertently; and is the foundation of all things. In this society, we place a high value on the institutional education system, yet we turn our heads at the holes in it. Our education system is only as strong as its weakest student; therefore, it should be our duty to prepare and equip our next generation of leaders with the best tools we can, regardless of demographics.
Teach For America recognizes the potential of these “at-risk” students and is turning that potential into a kinetic opportunity. These students know that they come from low-income neighborhoods. They know that they are being judged based on their socioeconomic backgrounds and their skin color. They see, and understand that the resources available at the wealthier schools far outweigh what is provided for them. Furthermore, when a child understands that the expectations are low, chances are they won’t exceed them; they don’t see a reason to do so. If they feel that no one is in their corner, what reason do they have to fight?
Teach For America fights on behalf of those who can’t fight for themselves by providing a foundation on which to build. I want to be a part of that foundation. I want to be the change that I wish to see. I want to help challenge the status quo, and to help students realize and embrace education. I want them to ditch the box that has been built around them their whole lives, and play in the universe of possibility. I want them to dream, and turn those dreams into goals; then, turn those goals into conquests.
As a corp. member, my first priority is not to teach, but to educate. I don’t want to teach students to memorize facts. I want to educate their entire existence; the development of the whole person, their attitudes, their skills, and their minds.
The source of a calling often comes from a difficult problem that one has overcome. Education has been the driving force behind my ambition and perseverance. I know what it’s like to be judged because I came from a low-income neighborhood. I know all too well the feeling of hopelessness and guilt that I experienced when a wealthier student asked where I lived. My parents ensured that I attended the best schools in my city so that I could write my ticket out — and I did. Along the way, I had the luxury of having some educators who cared about who I was and who recognized the potential I had within myself, even before I did.
Thus, I feel that it is my obligation to turn around and grab a hand. I know that I will have been a successful corp. member when I have positively affected at least one student, and they have turned around to help someone else.
Each one, teach one.
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