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Corps Year: 2007 |
Why did you choose to come to the Delta?
My older sister was a Teach For America corps member in an urban region and from her experience I knew I wanted to teach in a place where I was actually a part of the community. I wanted to teach in a rural region because I am much better suited for a smaller place. I talked to a friend who taught in the Delta, and she only had great things to say. Everything she said was what I wanted in a region and my teaching experience. I wanted to live in a very small town, spend a lot of time with other corps members, and spend a lot of time in the community where I would be teaching. I wanted to get to know my students and their families really well. I hoped to run into my students at the grocery store or the gas station. I have definitely been able to experience all of this in the Delta.
What do you love the most about the Delta?
I love the kids! They are so eager to learn (not to say they always behave), and they are thirsty for knowledge and to learn about anything to add to their few experiences. The Delta is such an isolated place that it increases the students’ drive to learn. The majority of my students have not left the Delta, so bringing in literature or pictures that describe anything outside of the Delta mesmerizes them. They want to learn about other cultures and other types of communities. My students love to read books about the cold weather and snow in Maine, and how students in New York City attend public schools that do not have names, but numbers instead.
In the Delta, there is a strong history and vibrant culture that makes the residents become deeply rooted in community and family. People born and raised in the Delta have a sense of dedication and camaraderie to their friends and family that is unique to this region. This sense of community makes the Delta an inspiring place to live. Additionally, the Delta is certainly a fun place. Blues was born right here in Clarksdale, Mississippi. There are outdoor blues festivals, crawfish boils, and museums. Even the food is unique - fried green tomatoes, Kool-Aid pickles, and catfish are found on local menus.
What is your neighborhood like? How is it like or unlike other neighborhoods in your area?
I live in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a town of about 20,000 people. It is best known as the home of the Crossroads, Highways 61 and 49, the origination of blues music, and as home of Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero blues Club. Clarksdale is one of the bigger towns in the Delta where Teach For America places teachers.
I live in a house with two other corp members, and we live a few blocks away from six other houses where corps members live. We live in a residential area that also has lots of churches. I live close to the main street in Clarksdale where there are plenty of fast food restaurants, a Mexican restaurant, some shops, a grocery store, and a Wal-Mart. Downtown Clarksdale is about two miles from where I live. While it is not as vibrant as it once was, it does include a great blues souvenir shop, some bars, a few upscale restaurants, the Delta Blues Museum, and a few art galleries. Some local business owners have recently started renovating some of the downtown area, and I’m excited to see the changes that come to the neighborhood.
What's weekend life like in the Delta?
Every Thursday night we go out for Mexican food at the local Mexican restaurant. It has been a long-standing tradition for Clarksdale-area corps members. It’s a nice way to celebrate the week and catch up with everyone. I spend a lot of time with other corps members; we might eat at someone’s house or a local restaurant, or go to a local blues bar to listen to live music. On a weekly basis, corps members in other areas of the Delta will have a cookout or party, and corps members from all over the Delta will drive to their house for the night. It is nice to get to see other corps members who live in other parts of the Delta because we are such a spread out region. The Clarksdale crew loves to have big BBQs and grill and hang out by the pool. On Sundays, everyone is usually back to work and to bed early! I also go to Memphis or Oxford once a month to do big city things. I like to do work at a coffee shop, eat at a fun restaurant, or go to a concert. It is always nice to get away for a little bit.
On Saturdays during the winter, the students in my school play round robin basketball games at the high school so I often attend the games to watch or work in the concession stand. It is really exciting to see my kids outside of the classroom. Occasionally a group of teachers will get together and play soccer or tennis. We also have Professional Saturdays once a month when all the Teach For America teachers get together for professional development.
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