Overwhelmed with the thought of a job or going to grad school? Luckily, those aren’t your only options. There are many government and non-government programs out there for those of us holding a college degree to make the world a better place.
One program that is very popular for SMU grads is Teach For America– a non-profit organization combating achievement gaps in public schools across the nation. Members of the Teach For America Corps agree to teach in a public school for two years in urban and rural schools. Teach For America works in 43 communities across the United States, and have already taught 3 million students since 1990 (when most of us were born). If you apply for Teach For America, you can list the order of cities/communities you wish to work in, and the organization will place you according to that list. And yes, Dallas is an option! Corps members receive a full salary and benefits as a beginning teacher from the school district where they teach. The deadline for 2012 Applications has already passed but go to teachforamerica.org for more information.
If you are looking to travel and go outside of the United States, English programs in foreign countries are always looking for smart, educated teachers. For example, this Wednesday, April 4, at 5:00 p.m., a representative from United TEFL Teacher Training will hold an information session in the Hegi Conference Room in 200 Hughes-Trigg. TEFL provides abroad training for students to obtain their Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. You can study and obtain this certificate in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Go to europetfl.com for more information!
Another abroad option is to join the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is present in 75 countries world wide, with volunteers serving for 27 months at a time. Volunteers focus on providing technical assistance in the areas of: education, youth and community development, health, business and information and communications technology, agriculture, and environment. There is no fee to participate in the Peace Corps, and they provide a monthly stipend for living and housing. Travel to and from your country of service is paid for, and volunteers also receive complete medical and dental benefits. Volunteering with the Peace Corps is a great real world experience that will aid anyone in future jobs and endeavors.
These are just a few of the many options out there! Go to the Hegi Career Center to learn about your options and remember– we are all in the same boat!