In attempting to write a short piece describing my experience as a current 2011 Teach For America corps member I couldn’t find the exact words to give an accurate account of what has transpired in my life over the past six months.

To say that this has been a challenge is an understatement. Despite the vast challenges I have encountered in life prior to Teach For America, my corps experience has pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of.

It is no longer about me as an individual, because I now have to hold a daily responsibility to educate, inspire, and transform the future leaders of America.

I take on the role as not only a teacher, but a mother, counselor, nurse, mentor, coach, and the list goes on. I am inspired to do this because I want to say that I was a vessel in ensuring that students across the United States receive a quality education.

This means that my students and I are on a mission to ensure that they get to and through college. I am honored to be a part of this movement. When I look back over the last six months and how I have been responsible for 96 students, I see the growth and role that I have played in ensuring that they get “to and through college.”

This is astounding to me on so many levels, especially because this time last year, I was working to educate my fellow Aggies about the state of education in America and the role we could all play in order to ensure that students of color in low income communities have access to better educational opportunities which in turn would translate into better life opportunities.

It was through these same conversation that I along with 14 other Aggies decided to play an active role in changing the face of education for students and helping them reach their truest potential despite their zip codes and socio-economic status which much too often society deems as the true factor of whether a child can and will succeed.

I joined this movement and am witnessing firsthand the impact I am having on my students’ lives. Being a part of Teach For America is challenging but it is also humbling and truly an experience that has changed my life.

Being a corps member is hard work to say the least. On top of being a teacher for my students, I also stay after school in order to coach the cheerleading team or to help a student.

While this is extra time, it is worth it because of the impact this has on students’ lives. And isn’t that the point of it all?

The goal for me as a corps member is to educate my students by preparing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to accomplish their goals, have a tangible impact, and develop myself in the process.

I am a 6th grade English Language Arts teacher at a KIPP school in Houston, Texas and I am proud to say that I am a vessel in the movement to close the achievement gap, ensuring that all students receive a quality education, and get not only “to” but “through” college.

The preeminent political and ideological leader of India, Mohandas Ghandi stated, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

I am a proud to say that I am upholding his vision by being a 2011 Teach For America corps member. My question to you, my fellow Aggies, is will you dare to do the same?

There are millions of students who need leaders, role models, social change agents, and people like you to ensure that they beat the odds stacked against them, receive a quality education, gain access to better life opportunities, and ensure that one day they too can do the same for the next generation.

So I ask again, will you do the same?

Sincerely,

Current 2011 Teach For America

Corps member

Janae Brown