As I approach the end of my time here at Ole Miss, I find myself lying awake, reflecting on the past four years and attempting to comprehend the complexity of growing older. I think about the identities I’ve taken over the past four years: the uncertain freshman; the sophomore searching for purpose; the stressed junior, trying to find a balance between work, school and friends. Today, I am the apprehensive senior about to take on a big new identity: teacher.
I grew up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. Throughout my life, I attended excellent public schools with nurturing environments, compassionate educators and administrators, an immense amount of resources at my disposal and parents who never failed to support and encourage me to be the best person I could be. In my community, the question was never “are you going to college?” but rather, “where are you going to college?” Everywhere I turned, society told me that I could be successful. I was fortunate. I was lucky. I was privileged.
I began college as a biology major, hoping that this would lead me on the path to becoming a prosperous physician. After my first semester at Ole Miss, I realized two things: I hate biology, and I needed a new plan.
During spring semester of my freshman year, I started to find my way to it. I began tutoring at the Leap Frog Program here in Oxford. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I tutored the same first grader, Ty’Quiez, who struggled with reading, writing and math. He was smart but self-conscious. He was tough but sensitive. He was capable but discouraged. I came to Leap Frog every week hoping to change his life and the course of his future. Instead, Ty’Quiez changed mine.
One day, while practicing sentence structure, Ty’Quiez wrote the sentence, “I smile when I am happy,” with no mistakes. Knowing that he struggled with proper grammar, I beamed with pride. Teasingly, I asked him how he got to be so smart. He replied, “When you told me I could be anything I wanna be.” At that moment, I knew the person I wanted to be. It would take hard work and commitment, but I knew I was ready for it. I wanted to be a teacher.
During my time at Ole Miss, I’ve grown to understand that leadership is about enacting positive change. It’s humbly holding your head high when things go right and wrong. It’s being kind, encouraging, enthusiastic, compassionate and trustworthy. It’s admitting your mistakes, constantly improving and striving to be the best you can be regardless of the circumstance. Teachers embody these qualities like no other. As leaders, they inspire their kids, help them access opportunities and help them believe in their potential to be leaders themselves.
I didn’t decide to teach because I think I’m going to be a hero. I chose to teach because I believe in being the change I wish to see in the world. I want to make a difference in the lives of my students. I want to be a part of ensuring that kids like Ty’Quiez get the fair shot they deserve.
As I become a Teach For America corps member after graduation, I’ll be joining a network of more than 47,000 people working relentlessly to make access to opportunity equitable. It’s a network of leaders vastly diverse in background and experience, working across sectors to create change. But we are all united around the fundamental belief that a quality education is not a privilege – it is a right. We can fight to ensure all students get to enjoy that right. As you think about what in the world you’re going to do after you leave here, I hope you choose more. I hope you will choose to teach.
Anna (AK) Suggs is a graduating senior studying public policy leadership from Kingwood, Texas.
