Education and TFA, a critical perspective

So I was talking to this friend of mine today about Teach for America and the America's education system. I was so inspired by his ideas and our conversation that I feel like I MUST do a post on this. As I mentioned before, I applied for Teach for America, and I am currently in the application process. The reason why I applied is because I am so passionate about TFA's philosophy. I believe in their mission to bring quality education to every kid in this country, regardless of where they are from, where they live, and what their socioeconomic status is. The mission is to break the cycle of inequality and poverty.

I know people who were or are currently in TFA, some loved it, and some hated it. The people who hated it is mainly because of how the program is runned, a lot of administrative stuff, but also because the people who are in it. At first, I didn't really care so much about that. The administrative stuff, I don't care about, what I care about is TFA's philosophy, and that is all that matters. If I am in TFA, I would be out there teaching math or science to kids who needed it the most, and really giving them a chance at success in life. That is my vision, that is my only vision. And I've come to realize that vision is oh so shortsighted.

After my conversation with my friend, he helped me realize a lot of flaws within TFA. I think I was so enamoured with the program, that I never really thought about it critically. The problem is so obvious, now that he pointed it out to me! TFA recruits rigorously at some of the best universites in the U.S., Ivy Leagues, UC's. Any top school you name, TFA has probably been there giving their little speech before class. If you listen carefully to their messages though, you'll realize that they keep on saying how TFA corps members have gone on to become strong leaders in healthcare, legal work, administration, government, etc. Never do they say corps members continuing in education and becoming long term teachers. So implicity, TFA is endorsing the message that teaching itself is not a viable or impactful long term career, but it is important for future doctors, lawyers, or politicians to understand the issue of inequality that is so pervasive in every field and every profession. Now that I think about it, I guess TFA's marketing strategy is a smart one, though not necessarily the right one. It would be complete suicide to go to an Ivy League school and try to get their graduates to become teachers working at some 30K salary. You really think someone who graduated from Harvard is going to devote the rest of his or her life to teaching inner city kids when he or she can bank over 100K becoming a lawyer, doctor, or a politician? And so TFA's marketing strategy is to say, "look, we know you want to become a doctor, a lawyer, a politician, and we are going to help you achieve that, if you come and teach with TFA for 2 years. It'll look great on your resume. You'll get what you want to achieve, and we'll get what we want. It's a win-win situation." Now that looks a lot appealing to an Ivy League graduate doesn't it?

So now here is the thing. Is it really TFA's fault for doing this? Or is there something wrong with our society and how the society perceive teaching as a profession. Why is it that TFA has to resort to this type of marketing strategy?? It's a cycle. Most people who graduate from top schools do not even consider teaching as a profession. #1, the pay is shitty. #2, there is not a lot of respect for teachers out there. So bascially nobody who graduates from a top school want to go into teaching, and so the quality of teaching goes down, America's education system crumples, less and less people going and getting into top schools, top schools quality goes down, everything falls apart, and we reach madness and chaos. Apocalypse.

It is a visious cycle. Isn't education sooooo important? Education is fundamental to everything else. If it wasn't for education, we wouldn't be sitting here doing our homework and going to class. We wouldn't be dreaming these dreams of becoming somebody great. We wouldn't be where we are right now. Hell, we wouldn't even be having this conversation or any intellectual conversation as a matter of fact if we weren't educated. And so, do you see the importance of education? And how can we even tackle the issue of global poverty if we are not educated, and if the rest of the world isn't educated. Do you see? So what do we do in our situation? So what does TFA do? I feel like TFA has no choice but do what it does to get high quality teachers. They know no one is going to want to teach long term, so they get them to teach for 2 years and offer them something in return. This is not the right strategy, but with our society right now, it is how it is, and it is fuckin sad.

My friend offers an alternative. I think it is very interesting.
He says that TFA should take its massive marketing strategy and volunteer force and turn it towards positive marketing for teaching as a profession, and enhancing teacher pay for potentially entry level teachers. Add a 10K or so to their salaries, making teaching a more attractive choice. As with gaining prestige and respect, first of all, I think its kind of messed up that teachers have to FIGHT to gain respect and prestige, considering how important they are to the fundamental well being of an individual as well as the entire country. Anyways, thats besides the point. There are many ways to create prestige, we can attach titles, make programs, scholarships, whatever, something.

So yeah, I thought my conversation with my friend was very insightful and very inspiring. As much as I agree with his anti-TFA sentiment, I don't think it is going to change my mind in the end. I still want to join TFA. I know that at the end of the day, my goal and dream is to become a doctor, and yeah, maybe you'll say that I am simplying using TFA as a stepping stone and a resume builder, but my passion for teaching and working with those kids are real. My motives are real. I love to teach, but I also love the sciences, the human body, and life. Why can't I have it all? Here is the kicker. If you look up the definition of a doctor in the dictionary, it says teacher. hahah funny huh? I think I found my match no?

10 things I hate about pre-meds

1) person A took class X before person B. Person B asks person A for his/her old tests and notes, person A lies and says he/she doesn't have them anymore.

2) I was in the library one day studying for a midterm. I saw this girl next to me studying for the same midterm, but I saw she had a copy of a midterm from the previous year. I asked her where she got it, she wouldn't tell me.

3) Person A and person B finds the same research/job/whatever opportunity, person A tells person B that he/she is not going to apply, but then secretly applies.

4) Listing your some 50 work/volunteer/research experience on facebook, complete with project details about how you are saving the world one cancer cell at a time.

Okay, I lied, I can't find 10 things to write about. Well I guess it's a competitive world out there, and everyone is willing to do anything to get ahead. I just thought this was funny.

Lets skip step II and go to step III

So...I was waiting to hear back from Teach for America today, to see if I got invited to a phone interview. When I opened my e-mail, they said they wanted me to skip the phone interview and go straight ahead to the in person interview!! OHH SHITTT....Looks like this is for real now! I am actually very nervous when it comes to interviews. I feel like I am much more eloquent in writing than in speaking. I've been to so many interviews, and so many failures....Sometimes there are so many things I want to say in an interview, but then I always forget during the interview, and then I remember them afterwards. Let's hope that won't happen this time around.

Step I

I submitted my Teach for America application yesterday. It is the first phase of a long series of intensive selection process. I know that Teach for America is very selective, only about 17% of their applicants get accepted, and if somehow I fall short, it is okay, I just want to know that I tried my best. I really did put my heart into that personal letter, I just hope my passion and strong belief in their philosophy comes through in that 500 word essay. I hear back in a week with regards to whether I get a phone interview and advance to the next stage. Wish me luck!

Photoshoot

This past Sunday I went on a photoshoot with BARE magazine for their coats issue. I was so excited when I got assigned to do this shoot, but it really just wasn't what I expected at all. I think maybe I'm just not used to doing this type of work, photographing for someone else and helping them achieve their vision. For all the photoshoots I've done before, I had complete control over the pictures. I direct the models, I choose the locations, it's my vision, my photos. But this time, it wasn't my vision, they are not my photos. It is someone else's vision, someone else's photo that I needed to produce. I felt like I had no say in the composition or style, and therefore completely lost my perspective as a photographer. I realize that it is not my magazine that I am shooting for, and they have a specific look that they want, and so I put my pride aside and was thus completely trampled over. The production team was not only directing the models, but they were also directing me. I was told how to compose the photo, what angles to shoot from, what the background is. It just felt really strange. I wasn't used to it at all. Even now that I look through all the photos I took, I don't really feel that sense of accomplishment with them. I mean there are a few good photos that I would definitely like to keep, but they just doesn't feel like my own. I felt like I didn't have as much input as I would like to have or normally would have. Also during the shoot, I wasn't really given the chance to interact with the models. The production team was talking to the models and directing them, and I was kind of left out there on the side just clicking away on my camera. Before, I always interact with my models. It just makes everything a lot more natural and fun. I really believe that subject and photographer interaction is very important.

Well anyways, it was definitely an interesting experience. I think I learned a lot from it, and it actually made me realize how much these little processes in photography mean to me, how much I actually value my own creativity and control as well as interaction with the subject being photographed.

I think you are pathetic

Coats Shoot

I've been photographing for fun for quite awhile now, and I really wanted to get into some serious fashion photography, but just never really had the chance to. I applied to be a photographer for BARE magazine last year, UC Berkeley's first fashion magazine, but they never contacted me for any shoots. I was just getting into photography when I applied, and I didn't really have that many great samples to show. So last Sunday, I decided to take the initiative to go to BARE magazine and apply once again to be their photographer, this time, I brought 10 samples of what I think is the best of my work so far. Then yesterday, they contacted me to do their upcoming coats shoot. WOO!! I love coats! So excited!! and a little nervous!! I went to their production meeting today to go over the schedule, shooting location, theme, meet the models etc. This will probably be the most formal shoot I've ever done. There will be a makeup artist to do the model's hair and makeup, and the clothes will be from local vintage stores and boutiques. I just hope that the clothes, location, and models are inspiring, so that I can really perform on this shoot. I am nevervous, since I am no where a professional photographer, but this is my chance! This could be my first step into the world of fashion photography! The shoot is on Sunday, and I am already looking around for techniques, tips, and inspirations.
Here are some photos I found that will be my source of inspiration. I really hope that my photography equipments won't limit me on Sunday.