What I Really Think

When someone considering TFA in her future asked me my opinion of my current experience, I replied:

The program in and of itself is great, I would say. Lots of support. Lots of training. Opportunities at getting a masters in teaching for almost free. However, the american education system is a disaster. And when its all said and done, you are a teacher at your school before you are a Teach for America Corps member. Each school is very different and all Corps Members have very different experiences. Some people I have talked to are really guided and helped by their school's administration and others are basically hired and never contacted again. My situation would fall somewhere in the middle. I have learned so much in the last 6 months, but they have also been the most difficult, emotionally erratic and least enjoyable of my life. I know it sounds super depressing, but I just wanted to be completely honest with you since no one ever told me this previous to applying.

Everything that TFA tells you is 100% true. There is a huge gap between different groups of students in the US. American schools are failing. Good teachers make a huge difference in the education of students and competitive and compassionate young graduates will do a great job in the classroom.

What they don't tell you is that you'll be working from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed, spend hundreds of your own dollars on your students/classroom and unintentionally let your personal health and social life fall by the wayside. Also they dont tell you how disrespectful and unappreciative students are. While they are of course children and don't know better, no one cares how many hours of sleep you lacked to plan them fun and interactive activities. They will still express to you that they think you're a racist bitch, asshole and/or motherfucker. No one cares if you have a headache or if you're having some personal crisis. They still treat you with the same disrespect they do every day.

Granted these things are all parts of life in the United States. I think that most successful people are hard working and sacrifice many things in their personal life to better their professional life. Its just a rude awakening going from such an enjoyable and mostly stress free lifestyle in Madison to the sad truths of the "real world"