It wasn’t unusual to say that I was interested in being a teacher one day. I’m an English major and that is the first thing that people ask (are you going to be a teacher?) when I tell them what my field of study is. Usually, my answer is no. Not today. The Lehman College Career Expo was scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and I was still at home. I looked over the site and looked at the business and organizations that were going to be present. Nothing that screamed “publishing” popped up. Nothing seemed to cater to me but the stereotypical teaching positions; I could be an English teacher I thought. Eventually I figured that there was no harm in going. I ran over my mental checklist, I needed to print out a couple of resumes. I buttoned my blazer, dusted my pants off, and checked my hair one last time before heading out the front door.

“There’s a big turnout” my boyfriend texted me as I sat on the bus. “I’m only one stop away” I replied. I was nervous. I was surprised to be. Resumes in hand, I made my way to the Apex. I was met with a sea of suits, “have your ID’s out and resume ready please. Sign-in” the lady behind the desk said to me as I approached the table. Students lined up outside the gym waiting to enter, folders and binders on the ready. I smiled as the lady behind the desk gave me back my ID. “Enjoy and good luck” she said as she got ready to check-in the student behind me; I entered the gym.

There were tables everywhere, corner to corner, two representatives at each table and a swarm of student bodies. I walked around to get a better lay of the land. Some tables were clouded in interest while others looked cast aside and deserted. Their reps were trying to attract someone, anyone, to their tables. I kept walking by. Tables cluttered with pens, pins, and poster-boards. Pamphlets, and brochures, some had chap sticks and mints. Tables filled with information and knick-knacks in efforts to reel us in.

Employer’s stated their presence with broad banners and branded table cloths; they displayed their colors proudly-blue and yellow, red and white, purple and green. Democracy Prep Public Schools, Equality Charter School, The American Dream School, Bronx Community Charter School, and more. So many schools, which school would I approach first? “Hi, I’m an English major, I’m graduating this year” I said as I finally approached my first table. I was given pamphlets and flyers, even annual reports. “I have been working with kids my whole life, I’m a tutor and a Sunday school teacher. I was a camp counselor once” I said hoping to peak their interest. “But I don’t have a teaching certification” I said, I wasn’t really planning on getting one. “What age group are you looking to work with?” one rep asked for his camp program. “Elementary, maybe middle school. I feel more comfortable with the younger ones based on my experience” I replied in surprise. The answer came so naturally; I never really thought about which age group interested me if I were to teach.

I went table by table, school to school, picking up contact cards, shaking hands, leaving my resume behind until I didn’t have any resumes left. “We are looking for teacher’s assistants” some schools called them “school aids” or “non-instructional positions.” Other schools were looking for a Spanish teacher or/and ESL instructors. Most of the school’s available positions were no teacher certification required; I can actually do this if I chose to which surprised me. Usually, having a teaching certification is one of the first requirements that most schools ask for when looking for potential candidates to hire. This was when I realized that the majority of the schools were charter schools, privately funded, academic institutions that work separately from the NYC Board of Education.

Each charter academic institution operates differently, independently, making recruitment for teachers and staff difficult and the hiring process unique. The opportunities where plentiful and the schools present were eager to hire new faces with Bachelor’s degrees. The schools catered to low-income and financially troubled communities; its population compromised of minority families. Most were located in the South Bronx and Harlem. One school, Girls and Boys Prep structured as mentorship programs for young boys and girls. Another, wanted to motivate its students to be environmentally conscious. What started out as the farthest thing from my mind, became a high and likely possibility.