"To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever..."

http://www.teachforamerica.org/corps/teaching/diaries/nyc_kinhal_shyla.htm

As mentioned before, my 3 passions that drive me in the direction towards a teaching career are service, children, and Spanish. Teach for America is a program that recruits “recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.” What a perfect opportunity! When browsing their website I came across several teachers’ personal accounts of the lives they had changed during their years of service. One in particular stood out to me. It was about a bilingual 2nd grade teacher who had a student, Chris, who was very behind in school because did not like speaking in front of others and hardly spoke Spanish at all. But after much intentional time and a deliberate investment in his life, Chris wanted to have English speaking parts in the school play!
This author uses her personal experience to encourage others to join the Teach for America Program. I found her approach rather humble, yet very persuasive as well. She effectively pulls at your heart. Retelling a personal story is much more effective than just telling about the program. How it actually changes a child's life is much more gripping than how it could change a child's life. Reading this story makes me realize how influential a teacher can be in the life of a student. As the mother of Chris put it, “Chris, Ms. Kinhal es como tu mama en la escuela. Ella te quiere mucho, así que la tienes que escuchar. Chris, Ms. Kinhal is like your mother in school. She loves you, so you have to listen to her." Children often look to their educators as mentors. I would love to be an encouraging example to students, just as this teacher was to Chris.