Why I Became a Teacher
August 14, 2020
Princess Francois (NY '19)
"Teaching found me. Starting in childhood, I tutored my peers and achieved great results. In college, I mentored minority pre-med students to help them gain admission into medical school. I thought that was my ultimate dream as well. I noticed that a lot of my peers who shared my background—first generation, colored, poor—were struggling through college, particularly in the Ivy Leagues and especially in core STEM classes. I realized that their struggles were rooted in the quality of their K-12 education.
"I joined Teach for America fresh out of college, wanting to make a difference, not realizing what that truly meant. I wanted my students to have the same quality education that I received. However, that quality education did not come from my zoned school. Rather, it came from my mom making numerous sacrifices to enroll me in Catholic schools.
"Things hit close to home when I was placed at the very zoned school in Prospect Heights that my mom refused to let me attend. I worked at that school for five years. Those years not only allowed me to invest in my own community, but they also fostered in me a strong desire to be a role model for my students."
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