Rising from the Ashes

Detroit's city motto is "Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus," which means "we hope for better things; it shall rise from the ashes."


I started Induction at Teach for America - Detroit this morning, and quite frankly, I was inspired. Detroit's motto is very fitting, given its circumstances. The city desperately needs hope, but the people I've met today from all around Detroit gives me confidence that it will indeed rise from the ashes. Over the past forty years, Detroit has lost around 50% of its population, and most of the residents that remain are poor and unemployed. 47% of adults in Detroit are illiterate, and Detroit Public Schools has a drop out rate of 43%. To think that half of a city's adult population can't read above third-grade level? That's not only heartbreaking, but it suggests a desperate need for reform of our education system.


I've been asked by close friends why I decided to join Teach for America, and why I would choose to work in an inner-city school, when I could make a bigger difference reforming educational policy on a national scale. What I've learned today confirms this decision, and reflects the reality - the state of despair - of our nation's schools. There is no doubt that reforming policy would make a much larger impact, and would change many lives in one broad stroke, but I learned today that there is no substitute for grassroots-level work. There is absolutely no substitute for teachers who will show students the love they deserve; there is no substitute for mentors who will counsel these students through testing times; there is indeed no better way for students to learn than to have teachers guide them along, side by side. There are so many teachers who just don't care, and so many teachers who ignore the students' best interests, that even if we reformed policies, nothing would change on the ground. 


And you know what? We've tried so many ways to reform our education system, but our schools are only getting worse. While our best schools are continuing to get better, and one middle school in Detroit is left with two teachers for 200 students. This is something truly wrong with this picture. In the most recent Michigan achievement tests, 99.3% of 9th Grade Social Studies students in Gross Pointe, MI (just east of Detroit) met state standards, while only 42.2% of Detroit students did. If this doesn't highlight the steep inequalities inherent in our system, what does? Is it really fair for affluent public schools to get iPads, when others don't even get a library, let alone computers? This ain't right. So, if no one else will help Detroit, it's just going to have to stand up on its own. And it will.


The people I met today are some of the most amazing people I've met. I came in apprehensive, not really knowing what I was getting into, but I was proved wrong. Even though Induction did seem a little bit like college - we hung out in groups of 20, and people all went out to the bars for late-night drinking - the people here have had such different life experiences and stories. One of our corps members served in the Michigan House of Representatives for 4 years, the Michigan Senate for 8 years, and is now part of Teach for America. Many of already had extensive teaching experience, some fought to close brothels in their hometown, one helped repair homes in the Appalachians, and others just simply have a heart to serve those who need it the most. From the conversations I've had, it's clear that people are raring to go; they speak with passion their love for kids, their anger toward injustice, and their excitement for the future. The people here in Detroit, too, are absolutely amazing. The teachers we've met, the community organizers, our tour guide, everyone. They all love this city, and all are committed to sacrifice their time and money to help revive it. They are working relentlessly to restore Detroit to its glory days fifty years ago. Everyone in the room, and indeed in Detroit, has a flame burning in their hearts, and hearing these heartbreaking statistics, who wouldn't? Many of these people have lived it; they've seen front and center how gang violence can impact families, how drugs ruins lives, and how broken families break childrens' hearts. They know what it's like, and that's why they're here to make sure the next generation doesn't have to go through all that.

Detroit was recently called "a national disgrace." Despite its abandoned houses, burned-down buildings, and cries for help, it is beautiful. Downtown is full of history and architectural brilliance, and other areas are so full of energy and culture. Most importantly, there is an undying sense of hope. Detroiters all believe that their city will once again be great. They know that with hard work, with faith, and with partnership, there is yet a bright future.


Going into an inner-city school to teach scares me. I'm going to teach a hundred kids whose futures - to an extent - depend on the successes and failures of my instruction. I'm going to be the only Asian. I'm going to be young. I don't want to screw up. Despite all this though, I look forward to this year with excitement. I have faith that if God put me here, I'm here for a purpose. I'm going to have to learn to not care about what my students think of me. I'm going to have to learn to discipline others. I'm going to have to learn to accept criticism, and embrace differences. But this is all a part of growing up. I'm so excited to be part of this movement that will make a difference; it's going to be a long, hard journey, but in the end, it's all going to be worth it. I do know that with God's help and guidance, with the perseverance and passion of the people of Detroit, it will, once again, rise up from the ashes.