During Induction, the entire New Orleans Corps gathered to hear a middle school student named Troy relay his experiences to us soon to be first-year teachers. Troy described the immense challenges he presented to his teachers, challenges ranging from tacit rebellions to utter disrespect. What was most remarkable about his story wasn’t the fact that his teachers changed his life trajectory; rather, it was the way in which he ended. He told all 180+ of us, “You can do this.”
A lot of us are nervous about the upcoming challenges, especially now as we begin five weeks of intense training and as previously distant notions of rebellion and disrespect from students become more concrete and common. But when students impugn me, I’m going to think back to what Troy said: I can do this.
If I don’t, I’ll remember the last interaction I had in New Orleans before leaving for Institute. Teach for America contracted with a garage for summer car storage. While dropping off my car, I told the attendant that I was with Teach for America. She replied that if she had a TFA teacher 5 years ago, she wouldn’t be where she is today.
