My Teach For America Q&A

Why do you seek to join Teach For America?

Let me start by saying that this will not be an ideal statement of purpose if you will. The reason I am interested in joining Teach for America is because frankly I have run out of options. I have fought a war, I have got an education and put myself in situations where I made lots of money. Unfortunately, it is not money that I seek. As cliché as it may sound, I would like to make a difference in a society that I believe is faltering which can only be recouped by our youth. I believe that currently a valid education can only be attained by the affluent. Something that irritates me to the core; brilliant minds do not only exist in private schools catered to the rich. To me it is a travesty to know that a child from a poor community, who is just as brilliant if not more brilliant, is not given the same opportunity as a kid who is considered ahead of the curve simply because of the school he/she went to. My schooling is not as impressive as someone who went to Harvard or Yale but I still believe I can go toe-to-toe with these so called scholars. And that's exactly what I would instill in the kids that I would potentially teach. That is the reason why I seek to join TFA. Can I teach? Hell if I know. What I do know is I would do whatever it took for those kids to have the tools to stand toe-to-toe with the Ivy League  

As you know, our corps members teach in predominantly low-income communities. What experiences (in life, work, volunteering, etc.) have you had that could inform your success teaching in low-income communities?

I have lived in low-income communities- where I'm from we call it the hood. I don't fully understand what "inform my success" actually means. All I can say is I have been there so I can relate... will I be successful is something only the future can provide the answer to.

Describe your most meaningful accomplishment (personal, professional, academic, athletic, etc.) to date. Why is this accomplishment meaningful to you and what did it require of you?

I don't feel I have realized my most meaningful accomplishment yet. Yes, I have accomplishments but I don't feel they are all that meaningful at this point.

Is there any additional information you were not able to share on the application that you think might be relevant to our Selection Committee? If so, you may share it here. (optional)

In the Marine Corps I was a radio operator. Not just any radio operator, I was a line radio operator, meaning I handled all communication that ran through India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during an actual war! So I cannot speak on my ability to teach children, but I can attest to my ability to lead. Take it for what it is and hopefully children will get the education they deserve, rich or poor