UCLA Center for the Study of Women

THIS PAST SUMMER I WAS

fortunate to attend the Institute

for the Recruitment of

Teachers’ (IRT) summer workshop

in Andover, Massachusetts. My

summer was filled with challenges

and motivation from the IRT as I

participated in a rigorous graduate

preparatory program with a group

of talented and passionate individuals

dedicated to dismantling

educational disparities and creating

an equitable society. My days

consisted of graduate-like seminars

and facilitation on dense theory,

which challenged me academically

and personally. Furthermore,

I received feedback from the IRT

faculty, which allowed me to reflect

on my teaching methodology and

practices as a future educator.

Engaging with challenging text

not only helped prepare my peers

and me for the rigors of graduate

study but served as a reminder to

our motivations for pursuing higher

education.