TFA and Teaching v. Studying

Yesterday I submitted my Teach For America application, which I’d been working on since finals started (obviously finals week is the perfect time to take up a new project). I had to give the name and contact info of three people who might serve as informants on my behalf. I discussed with my advisor who responded that she “would be happy to referee” which made me a trifle unsure as to whether she was on my side until I realised that she was certainly not — which is fine as long as I’m winning or not fowling out. Then, after submitting the app (bad move, I know) I emailed my high school teacher and coach of Greatest Influence to say, I hope you don’t mind refereeing for us, (I decided it was a good word) and attached my Letter of Intent, which mentions him briefly as the reason I chose my major.

He responded very interestingly:

Thank you SO much! I read your letter and was so touched that you mentioned me, especially today, a day when we had a faculty meeting that dragged on forever. We were asked rhetorically very late in the session about whether we have influenced people to enter the teaching profession. To amuse myself, I started a list of students that I know about that I have influenced. Not to steal Sr. Monica’s thunder [the woman who first made me want to teach], but it’s nice to include you at least partially in that number.

Again, thank you–it’s so nice to hear from a student who tells me it’s been worth all the trials and tribulations!

It was funny, because before he mentioned it I’d forgotten that my letter mentioned him at all (having written it back in December instead of some more immediate task). I’m glad he feels good about it, but now I wish I’d mentioned his role more significantly. It’s hard to develop too many themes in under 500 words, but I think the main thing was that I never considered him as an influence on my desire to teach but rather on my desire to study. Though, if I were to teach, I know I’d want to be exactly like him.