Q & A

What led you to apply to Teach For America?

When my parents adopted a baby girl from China, I realized how my sister would have access to a high-quality education because she was now part of a middle-class family—something millions of students in our country lack. This struck me as unjust and against America’s ideals. Once I learned about TFA, it became clear that joining the corps would be the most impactful way to address the problem.

What were some of the major lessons you learned during the corps? When you think about yourself before and after the corps, what changed?

Before the corps, I was convinced that educational equity was something worth fighting for. After the corps, I gained the necessary perspective and became convinced that my life would be devoted to this movement. Everything I do professionally is now geared toward closing the opportunity gap, and my belief in what’s possible has grown exponentially.

Is there something about being a corps member that has prepared you to be a leader?

My current work is focused on identifying barriers affecting students across the Indianapolis and working with various stakeholders to find and implement solutions. To be an effective leader requires the very skills that I developed and honed at TFA—things like the ability to purposefully plan and invest others in a vision.

How have you been able to utilize the TFA network after the corps?

At TFA-Indy, I connected alumni with high-impact roles in organizations across the city. One organization was The Mind Trust, where I built a close relationship with David Harris, the founder, before I ended up joining them a couple years ago. TFA’s local and national network has always ensured that I’m engaged with the right people.