Enough Already About Your Misgivings...

I had another one of those conversations this weekend that have become all too familiar. It goes mainly like this, "What are you doing next year? Any Plans?" and they'll answer with whatever they're doing. I'll say, "I'm doing Teach for America in Denver." They follow with with, "Denver is a great city, you'll fit right in there!"

The next stage varies from person to person. Having many friends similar to myself, a lot of them will say they either looked into TFA or even applied. Some don't. And then comes the part I love to hate, the almost inevitable "I'm not really a fan of Teach for America's methods, but I'm sure you'll do great because you're not like the rest of them." 

Now what exactly does that mean? Here's what it sounds like, "I'm making a generalization based on a couple of things I've heard or read, or even based on nothing. I like you, so I'll pretend you don't qualify for my generalization." 

When people tell me they got into Harvard, or got a job on Wall Street, or don't have a job, I congratulate them on their accomplishment and tell them something nice like, "That's a great accomplishment," or "That will be a great change from being a poor college student." I don't say "I dislike your grad school or job, but I won't hold it against you." Come on people, get a little class.

I know Teach for America is hard; I know TFA hires a lot of people without teaching experience, like me; I also know that they slam us with a lot of prep work in the short time we have and all their studies show that TFA teachers have great results in the classroom. Get over it: We didn't get a four-year teaching degree, but we still have a lot to offer these kids. A lot of schools just have a hard time finding teachers, and we make it a little easier. 

Funny note: As this particular conversation progressed, the girl with whom I was chatting told me, "I don't think they adequately prepare people to teach, that's why I'm starting an NGO called 'Educators for America.'" Really, Educators for America? She went on to describe a program nearly identical to Teach for America. Good for her, it sounds like a great program, but honestly, any differences were very minor. Why be a hater?

Law School Update

I'm now at 4-1-4, overall. BU waitlisted me and Colorado accepted me today. Colorado also invited me to an open house--a nice gesture--on Friday. In Colorado. Now, pray tell, what is the point of inviting someone in Boston to an event three days later? 

I'm glad I got in, don't get me wrong. Colorado is a great school that I'm lucky to be accepted to. It's also nice to get an ego boost after a period of one rejection and four consecutive waitlists. Applying to law school is very much a test of one's character, questioning your security, confidence, and most of all, patience. 

Just a note for anyone considering law school--all my reaches have been rejections or waitlists so far. I don't know the likelihood of getting in off waitlists, but I now know the likelihood of getting into a better school than expected is not very high. Even places that gave me fee waivers (free applications) have put me on waitlists. 

I've got two more to go--BC and Stanford. It would be nice to be accepted by my alma mater, but I'm really not holding my breath on Stanford after all these other quasi-denials. 

Thank God I got Teach for America. That's all I have to say. I'm so glad not to be forced to wait in tense expectation to be accepted from a waitlist while paying huge deposits to hold my spot at another school. 

PS. It was really sad to turn down Lewis and Clark today. They were so amazing every time that I talked to them, and really presented their case much better than any other school applied to. They had a beautiful, informative guidebook and friendly admissions staff. They offered me a lot of money. At least I'll have the chance to apply again in a couple years if I decide law school is the path that interests me most.