statement of purpose - teach for america application

My passion for education was ignited at a very young age, unusual I'm sure, I was quite lucky though. I was a part of the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Program in California schools. I had some of the best educators in the state as my guides and mentors. I still look to them today for advice and direction.  I believe that our most supreme responsibility is to create opportunities for young people to live out their fantasies, dreams, and wildest ambitions. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi of the University of Chicago teaches that through play young people are able to connect with parts of their creativity and intellect in a way that no other activity allows. I believe that active learning is the optimal environment for any student but it must be tailored to their needs. I believe that education is not a one-size-fits-all formula, but rather, a constantly evolving experience as unique as the individuals who can be forever shaped for the good. 

I believe that learning should happen organically and that the most effective lessons are the ones you learn when you don't even realize you're being taught. I believe that learning is a lifelong pursuit and a habit that begins in our formative years. We are inspired by those that are around us, who motivate us to work hard, to become something greater than we are today. I believe that education is the greatest equalizing tool that awakens giants and emboldens them to take charge of their destiny and change the world. If my students feel empowered and inspired then I have succeeded. If they have been challenged enough to see their own capacity for growth, I have succeeded.

Teach for America empowers our most impoverished communities. I have worked in schools from Abidjan and Yamoussoukro in Côte d'Ivoire, to the tough banlieu of Paris, France. My classroom was filled with young men and women from all over the globe and from nearly every socio-economic class imaginable. These students had to fight to survive. I grew up in the rough gang schools of outside of LA. and experienced first-hand the difficulties of being a minority, being bullied, and being different. Education is inevitably about more than just books and tests. It’s about breaking down the barriers and helping that young person find their passion. That’s why Teach for America is successful and why I want so much to be a part of that mission.

Education is my passion. Helping people achieve their dreams is what truly animates me. Working closely with Sir Ken Robinson I learned that passion is what activates real learning and ignites a life of imaginative beginnings and happy endings. I believe life is a school and every moment a privilege to share our vision of the future with those around us. I believe that young people are our future. I believe that it is our calling and our responsibility to help them make this a better place.