Two years ago, now-graduating senior and history major Babak Ghafarzade had a mind to go to graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in international relations. He had also thought about law school. He would never have predicted that now, in less than two months, he will be on his way to Philadelphia to teach high school algebra to low-income students.
“Not long ago, I read a really great article about Teach for America in the New York Times and it got me really interested,” remembers Ghafarzade. “I talked to my professors and advisers about it and they all suggested that I hold off on grad school and seize this opportunity.”
Ghafarzade applied to the program right before winter break last year and was accepted in January. Soon after, he was assigned a job as a ninth or 10th grade math teacher in Philadelphia. “I’m a history major, and I haven’t studied math since high school. I always liked math, though, and thought, why not? It’ll force me to think in a different way. I like challenges.”
The main draw to the Teach for America corps, Ghafarzade said, was the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of young students. “I started really getting into the idea of service. While studying abroad in France last year, I taught English to little kids and I loved the feeling of satisfaction I got from seeing people learning from my knowledge. I’m very attached to this country and I want to help in this national project to improve primary and secondary education.”
Statistics show that 9-year-olds growing up in low-income communities are already three grade levels behind their peers in high-income communities. Half of them won’t graduate from high school, and those who do will average eighth-grade level reading and math skills. The Teach for America program strives to improve the education of students in low-income areas.
“The idea is to get people into classrooms in the hope that these graduated seniors are going to challenge the students and make a difference in their lives,” Ghafarzade explained. “Right now, the caliber of a school or school district is very determined on the economic situation of its surrounding neighborhoods. We want to try to diminish the gap between low- and high-income districts and give everyone the opportunity to get a great education.”
Many students, including Ghafarzade, join Teach for America because it allows them to experience teaching without committing the rest of their lives to education. “I’m not sure I want my ultimate career to be in education,” Ghafarzade said. “Teach for America requires us to teach for two years while simultaneously working toward a master’s in education or a teaching certification, but after two years we can pursue anything we want.”
Ghafarzade said he was still considering going to graduate school and studying international relations or law. “Eventually I want to go to grad school, but who knows? Maybe I’ll end up being a teacher for the rest of my life.”
Masou Ghafarzade, Babak’s father, was surprised at his son’s choice to join the Teach for America corps, but he was proud nevertheless. “I never thought he was going to be one of those people – he loved drawing as a kid and I’d always pictured him as an artist,” he said. “He was always very successful in student government, though. He’s a good leader.”
Ghafarzade’s brother Kaveh, a freshman at the University, agreed that he always possessed good leadership skills. “If he wanted to get something done, he’d always get it done, and he’d do it really well. He’s always been on top of his game and has always produced very good results. We’re all excited for him to get out into the real world and improve children’s lives.”

More Not-jobs

Peace Corps: Since 1960, more than 187,000 people have joined the Peace Corps in an effort to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. Members participate in anything from AIDS education to environmental preservation in order to improve the state of their host country and to increase their own understanding of the world outside the United States. The University is one of the top producers of Peace Corps members in the country.
Interning Abroad: Many students have too many credits to complete while pursuing their undergraduate degrees and never get an opportunity to study abroad. Instead of taking a year off to backpack all over Europe, why not put those two years of foreign language study to use and secure an internship abroad? There are a vast number of opportunities for almost every imaginable profession, whether it be environmental science, music, or creative writing. Visit http://www.internabroad.com/search.cfm to find your dream internship.
National Parks: If you love nature and are interested in helping to preserve the United States’ natural and cultural heritage, consider becoming a volunteer or employee in a National Park. From parks to regional offices, the Park service employs over 20,000 individuals in permanent and temporary positions, from scientists to animal caretakers to foresters. For a complete list of positions, visit http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/employment/index.htm.