7/28/2019 The BYU_Teach for America connection U N I V E R S E

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The BYU/Teach for America connectionBy Amy Harrison on September 18, 2012.

Stuart Jackson teaches children in a classroomStuart Jackson teaches children in a classroom

The majestic sign standing at the ent rance of BYU proudly displays a phrase which BYU students try to live

by: Enter to learn. Go forth to serve.

Stuart Jackson, a recent graduate of BYU from Plymouth, Minn., fulfilled this motto through an opportunity

that arose after his plans for law school fell through. Not sure what step to t ake next, h e recalled a

program his friend mentionedTeach For America.

Teach For America is a program that partners with communities nationwide to expand educational

opportunities for children dealing with the challenges of poverty. The group entrusted w ith this task

consists of recruits from graduating classes of universities across the nation.

Throughout Teach For Americas 22-year history,

more than 108 BYU alumni have served in the

program. Thanks to service of this past years BYU

participants, BYU was rated 15 out of 20 in t he list of

top contributing universities according to Teach For

Americas latest ratings release.

As one of the BYU participants, Jackson said he is

learning and growing personally through this

experience. He sees this program as his opportunity

to make a difference in the world.

Its an eye-opening experience that is making me a

more mature and experienced and capable citizen of

the country, Jackson said. I really see Teach For

America as my service in the same way that joining

the army is a service. It is something Im doing for the country. It really gives me a deep satisfaction,

knowing that Im helping in some way to improve the life of kids in this country who didnt have the same

things I did growing up.

Jackson said he has enjoyed working with students in t he schools as well as the other corps members. He

said the program provided many missionary experiences as well because they w ere able to be

examples. He described inviting non-members to join the LDS group on their late-night Yogurtland runs.

It w as a way for us to bond, and it t ook us back to Provo, which we really missed, Jackson said.

Eventually we had a lot of people who werent members of the Church coming to Yogurtland with us.

Teach For America is said to be very challenging and rigorous. Jackson said his personal experience has

been difficult, but worthwhile because he went for the right reasons.

This is one of the hardest things I have ever done, Jackson said. I felt I applied for the right reasons, but

at one point, I even wondered what I was doing here. If youre not here for the right reasons, youre likely

to have a hard t ime. There were a lot of people that dropped out. If youre here for the right reasons, you

see past that and keep working.

Adam Wilson, a 2008 BYU alumnus who is now a recruiter for Teach For America, also served in the

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7/28/2019 The BYU_Teach for America connection U N I V E R S E

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About the Author Author's latest posts

Jackson interacts with children during his timeJackson interacts with children during his time

with Teach For America.with Teach For America.

program. He said the program can be compared to a boot camp.

The t raining part was probably th e most difficult for me. We worked long hours for five weeks t o get

prepared t o teach in a classroom. It is a very boot-campesque experience, Wilson said. For those five

weeks, I wondered if I would be able to make it to the next day.

Wilson said Teach For America looks for graduates who are ready to accept this important challenge. As

one who accepted the challenge, Jackson said the learning environment at BYU helped prepared him for

the experience and gave him a deeper motivation for serving.

I feel that at BYU we learn that the glory of God is intelligence. That is something th at has a lot of

implications for our education and our careers, he said. That is what BYU did for me.

According to an interview with Gaby Barahona, the regional communications manager for Teach For

America, applicants to the program are evaluated based on their leadership experiences and their passion

for education equality. Barahona also said the many leadership opportunities available to BYU students on

campus help them in Teach for America.

What we look for in our applicants is seniors that exh ibit a lot of leadership and perseverance, she said.

Given all of the leadership opportunities that BYU st udents have and can take advantage of, we d efinitely

continue to recruit there and be thankful that all of them are interested in Teach For America.

As a top contributor to Teach For America, BYU is truly fulfilling its mission to help its students serve

communities across the nation and the w orld.

Im really happy t o see BYU climb up this list, said Wilson. It demonstrates that BYU students care aboutthe community and service, not just w ithin th e LDS community, but in the nation at large. It really

demonstrates that BYU is able to play a role on a national scale addressing what I believe is a huge

injustice and problem for our nation.

Members commit t wo years to teach in high-need

schools and develop themselves as lifelong leaders in

the movement to end educational inequality. For

more information about applications and deadlines,

visit the organizations homepage.

As a final challenge, Jackson encouraged his fellow

BYU students to join him on this service journey and

to consider applying to Teach For America as their

way to go forth to serve.

I really believe Teach For America is a good

organization that is directly or indirectly affecting the

lives of a lot of young students in a positive way,

Jackson said. (Education inequality) is a big problem, and I think students from BYU are extremely

qualified and really fit w hat th e solution is, what t he solution needs.

Amy Harrison

The Daily Universe

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