2008 Woodie Awards
W&L grad speaks about Teach for America
Micah Ferguson
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
As graduation and the 'real world' approaches ever closer, college juniors and seniors inevitably grapple with the question of what to do with themselves. You typically hear, and probably have recited, phrases like: something new, something exciting, something meaningful, something important, and, of course, something practical. To get a glimpse of one post-graduate option which has been attracting the top grads throughout the country - and, thus, an option that offers these desired qualities - I recently sat down with Emily Bisso, W&L '06, to talk about her decision to join Teach For America.
Teach For America is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating educational inequity in the US. Bisso was one of seven student leaders selected from W&L last year to teach for two years in a low-income communities. Student leaders are chosen from over 3,000 universities and colleges nationwide every year.
Bisso currently teaches 7th grade Language Arts at the Community Health Academy of the Heights in New York City. She said the motivating factor behind her decision to choose Teach For America was her own educational background
"I've been very privileged… I received a good education just because of who I was, where I was born." On the other side of the spectrum, Bisso noted, are low-income communities and schools where "failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for these kids. They didn't do anything… [They believe] that because they are poor and they are Latino, they are going to fail. Many have actually told this to me in their own words."
Both Teach for America and Bisso recognize that to truly change things constitutes a great challenge, yet this appears part of the program's appeal.
"[It's] so much more than an artificial means of making a difference," Bisso said. "Something you experience fist hand. You determine how much or how little you give… It's what you make of it."
The program's challenging nature appeals not only to dedicated young leaders, but also to job recruiters. As recently featured on the cover of Fortune magazine, companies like JP Morgan and Google have approached TFA about joint relationships. If Teach For America really does- as their recruitment posters say- capture the country's future leaders, what company wouldn't seek out this employment pool?
Bisso's experience has already been eye-opening. Looking back on her time at W&L, she said that she did not realize how lucky she was - how lucky we are.
"I was sitting in on a Prof. Keen class today. Everybody had a notebook, listened attentively, shared their thoughts. For me, it was a huge feat that now my kids sit in a "U" and raise their hands to speak."
The challenge has not dimmed Bisso's sense of possibility and determination.
"But, by the end of the year, I will be sitting in a circle with my students, discussing a book. I will."
Teach For America is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating educational inequity in the US. Bisso was one of seven student leaders selected from W&L last year to teach for two years in a low-income communities. Student leaders are chosen from over 3,000 universities and colleges nationwide every year.
Bisso currently teaches 7th grade Language Arts at the Community Health Academy of the Heights in New York City. She said the motivating factor behind her decision to choose Teach For America was her own educational background
"I've been very privileged… I received a good education just because of who I was, where I was born." On the other side of the spectrum, Bisso noted, are low-income communities and schools where "failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for these kids. They didn't do anything… [They believe] that because they are poor and they are Latino, they are going to fail. Many have actually told this to me in their own words."
Both Teach for America and Bisso recognize that to truly change things constitutes a great challenge, yet this appears part of the program's appeal.
"[It's] so much more than an artificial means of making a difference," Bisso said. "Something you experience fist hand. You determine how much or how little you give… It's what you make of it."
The program's challenging nature appeals not only to dedicated young leaders, but also to job recruiters. As recently featured on the cover of Fortune magazine, companies like JP Morgan and Google have approached TFA about joint relationships. If Teach For America really does- as their recruitment posters say- capture the country's future leaders, what company wouldn't seek out this employment pool?
Bisso's experience has already been eye-opening. Looking back on her time at W&L, she said that she did not realize how lucky she was - how lucky we are.
"I was sitting in on a Prof. Keen class today. Everybody had a notebook, listened attentively, shared their thoughts. For me, it was a huge feat that now my kids sit in a "U" and raise their hands to speak."
The challenge has not dimmed Bisso's sense of possibility and determination.
"But, by the end of the year, I will be sitting in a circle with my students, discussing a book. I will."
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