Just a Quick Brainwashing Before Lunch

Well I officially started my TFA (Teach For America) induction today. Induction is this week where the TFA staff tells us all about their movement here in Chicago and Northwest Indiana and instill in us the concepts that will help us close the education gap. When I informed Nate via text that TFA was "pumping me full of idealism and making sure I am aligned with their core values", he responded: "oh good. Just a quick brainwashing before lunch." Haha! I find him so hilarious! But yeah, they are pretty much brainwashing me! Here are some of the things I learned today:

• When problem solving follow this framework: Look at the current outcomes, determine what the causes of these outcomes are, and then come up with a solution to get the outcomes that you want.
• Less than 50% of low-income students in the chicago area graduate from high school.
• Less than 4% of low-income students in the chicago area have the opportunity to go to and graduate from a 4-year university. Less than 2% for African Americans.
• These statistics don't have to exist. We can change them.
• Example of Change: Urban Prep, a high school that works with low-income African American boys had 100% of their graduating class last year accepted into a 4-year university.
• What I need to succeed in the classroom is an expansive internal locus of control (locus of control is the things you believe to be within your control--having a broad internal locus of control will help me see how I can be part of solutions rather than dwelling on the problem).
• I also need these core values: 1. A relentless pursuit of results--no giving up at the first sight of difficulty 2. Integrity to stand up for what I believe in and do something about it 3. Respect and Humility to recognize when others may know more about a problem than I do. 4. Disciplined Thought to ensure that when I come up with solutions, they are the most effective for my students. 5. A sense of possibility--if I think it's impossible, I won't even look for a solution!

Crazy! Guys, I am going to see miracles in my classroom. Today a person from my school came and spoke to us and he brought two of his students, my students, the students I will be teaching in August with him: Robert and Jamal. They both spoke to us and their stories broke my heart. Neither of them have ever known their fathers--Robert's was murdered and Jamal never knew his. Their mothers raised them the best that they could but often it was in poverty. But both of them stood up there and told us that they knew that they wouldn't have to live like that because they were going to go to a 4-year college a get a degree. It was amazing. I can't give up now. I know them, and they are waiting for me to be amazing. They are waiting for me to do miracles to ensure that they will have a different life for themselves. They need me. I will not fail them. I cannot fail them. Oh please don't let me fail them.