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Corps Year: 2006 |
Describe where you live.
I live in rural North Carolina, in Warren County, in the small town of Norlina. It’s pretty far from metropolitan and suburban areas, but it makes up for it in terms of personalities. People here go above and beyond the call of duty to make you feel like you have lived here all your life.
What do you love most about living in rural North Carolina?
I can take a long run by the countryside and wave to my neighbors. I love the option to buy fresh produce as I drive home from school or to the Y, but it really goes back to the people that I’ve met here. When I need bread or a screwdriver, my neighbors are more than willing to lend it to me. I rent a house with two other corps members who make living in Eastern North Carolina a pleasurable experience.
What is the nightlife and weekend life like in Norlina?
During football season, you don’t want to miss Friday night games — you want to be there! If not, my roommates and I have sit-down dinners and talk about the week. Several corps members and I have a Bible study that meets Tuesday nights. On the weekends, we go to Raleigh, to the mall, or to a bar. In Norlina, there’s a lot to do if you have the right people around, and on the weekends, you can venture out to the Triangle to experience more of a social scene. I never feel like I can’t get there. It’s only an hour away, which is nice because I grew up in a metropolitan area.
What is it like to teach in Warren County?
To teach here is really to be embraced by a very welcoming community. I have been enveloped from day one with a lot of help and resources. It’s a comfortable experience, and it’s challenging of course. The students will challenge you, that’s the nature of the job. But you’re surrounded by a faculty and administration that want to see you succeed.
How has your Teach For America experience been defined by the district or county where you teach?
It’s been good to be in a school where there are five other corps members. It’s great to be in a school where you have that Teach For America support as well as the support of the veteran teachers and administration.
How do the different types of schools and communities where your fellow corps members work influence your Teach For America experience?
When we come together as a corps for professional development, it’s really interesting to hear how diverse we are as a corps, working in the different counties, big or small. That has enhanced my perspective and understanding of the whole region. You have the chance to find out what’s going on in Durham County or Johnston County.
How has your life changed as an Eastern North Carolina corps member?
I personally think this level of responsibility is awesome. I feel like there’s a calling in my life to do something meaningful and challenging — it takes a special type of person to step up to the plate, and the reason I’m here is because I feel like the challenge is worth taking on. Coming from a historically black college really made me aware of obstacles that African-American women face, and that experience made me realize that the world isn’t necessarily geared toward black women or black people. While I definitely think all types of people can be great teachers, when I think about our mission, I feel that there’s a particular need for our students to see some teachers who look like them in the classroom to show them that they too can achieve. While I applaud that this organization even exists in places like rural North Carolina, I feel a need to bring more diversity to the organization at large, and particularly this region.
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