Notes from
Trish's Desk
October 7, 2010
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Greetings!
We received a touching e-mail from a TAF alumnus last week. He is in his final year at University of Washington, preparing to take his CPA exam. Both he and his brother (also a UW graduate) went through TechStart and the Technical Teens Internship Program. He was just checking in with us, but part of his message really tugged at my heart. If he's reading this, I hope he doesn't mind if I share some of what he said:
"The positive path both I and my brother are on is because we got targeted by TAF at such an early age. Having internships exposed both of us to the reality of life that we had no understanding of back then. For that I am eternally in debt to TAF."
It's hard enough for me to believe that the first generation of TAF students is through college and launching bright careers. A few of them even have kids of their own. But what continues to startle me is how many TAF alumni feel they would not have made it without TAF's support and encouragement.
A good education can change the future of any student. That much is clear. So why is it still so hard for kids in public education to get what they need to succeed?
As TAF expands its reach and moves from after-school programs into public schools, we have more opportunities to effect change in the lives of young people. We just announced our agreement with Renton School District to open the second TAF Academy and our partnership with The Martinez Foundation to provide STEM-focused training for new teachers of color. Later this month, our TechStart program will take a huge leap forward with a pilot program at White Center Heights Elementary School. TechStart School Day will bring the same STEM curriculum into the classroom, enabling us to expand from 12 students to almost 30 students in each class.
At the heart of these programs are the high expectations, support and encouragement that put the future CPA and his brother on the right path.
TAF is prepared to inspire a whole new generation of young people, and they need your help.
- What support and encouragement can you offer to one of our students?
- What words of advice would you give to a TAF Academy 11th grade student as he starts looking at colleges?
- What story would you tell to young TechStart students to inspire them to achieve their dreams?
I invite you to send us your thoughts, stories and words of wisdom. E-mail them to tafnews@techaccess.org.
Thanks for listening,
Trish Millines Dziko
Executive Director
Technology Access Foundation
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