Week -1

Week -1 of Teach for America's Houston Institute began immediately after arriving at Rice University's campus last Thursday. During this time the staff preps for the Corp Members arrival during Week 1.

I took some time to explore Rice's campus - how lovely! It's a beautiful, green place that contrasts Houston's medical center skyline and makes you forget that you're in a city. And when I say green, I mean it in every way - green grass, green trees, eco-friendly building, and sustainability in resources. 

This should really say "Welcome to the cave!" This points to our supply room, which is really 12 rooms made from two large suite style dorms connected by a hallway. It's been dubbed "the cave" or "the time-warp" because the Office Operations team (myself, two other interns, and our director) will go into the Supply Room and before we know it 5 hours has passed and it's time for our next meal.

You can sum up my life right now in paper cuts, chipped nails, and an aching lower back. It's our job to unpack all of the boxes filled with school supplies and assemble supply kits which for all 800 people at Institute. Each kit need around 40 items, some more, some less.

During Week -1 we also set up workspaces in common areas of each dorm where Corp Members will be staying at Rice.

The hours are long and the work is grueling, but the pay off is immense. Our directors make it hard to forget why we work so hard and make sure we are always seeing the big pictures - we are enabling students to excel in school despite their circumstances. The staff watched a video Interesting Times by Rice's Kinder Institute for Urban Research and had a Q&A with Dr. Klienberg. I highly recommend watching the trailer to gain a small insight into what we, Teach for America's Houston Institute, are doing in Houston.