Intern Profile: Tahina Vatel
Name: Tahina Vatel
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
School: Amherst College, Class of 2012
Major: LJST
Gmail: tahinarvatel@gmail.com
Internship Blog: http://tahva.blogspot.com/
Why did you choose the Mississippi Teacher Corps Summer Internship?
It all became clear to me the evening Ben Guest spoke at one of our Black Student Union
meetings. It was then that I heard for the first time the problems associated with the school
system in Mississippi. When he described the heart-breaking conditions children in the
Mississippi Delta had to face, I could only think of one thing-the children suffering from the
same if not worse conditions in Haiti, my parents’ native country. He also explained how we
could help by becoming an intern at the Mississippi Teacher Corps and I immediately wanted to
know more details.
A few years after I was born, my parents thought it would be best to raise my sister and I
in Haiti. Although we were Americans, it didn’t take long for my sister and me to adjust to the
new lifestyle and culture. But then, almost unexpectedly, the country went through major
political problems. I witnessed at a young age horrors I’d only seen in movies. Immediately after
the situation got out of hand we escaped the danger and took one of the first flights to New York,
and would later have our baggagesent to us.
I am saddened when I think about the day, four years ago, when we evacuated the country
not only because I was leaving a place I’d come to call home, but also because I felt sorrow for
those who weren’t fortunate enough to be able to leave this scene behind and continue to receive
their education in a country with opportunities like America. I then vowed to return to Haiti one
day, after having expanded my education, to help the country recuperate. My long-term goal is
open a school in Haiti. It will no doubt be a difficult task but it is one I am willing to carry out starting
with the Mississippi Teacher Corps.
While hearing Mr. Guest’s presentation I began to think about socioeconomic status and
how it relates to school, which in turn made me realize where I needed to start. I decided to take
an English class called Reading, Writing, and Teaching/Learning. In this class I am reading
books and short texts that describe the problems with the school system in America, such as
integration, funding, and immigration. Through this course, I’ve also become a Teaching
Assistant for a nearby high school, Holyoke High School. Because of Reading, Writing, and
Teaching/Learningand my participation in extracurricular activities, including Big Brother Big
Sister and America Reads America Counts,I am much more informed now than I had been 4
years ago. I am also more eager than ever before to start a career in education.
Furthermore, at the end of the internship I will have an opportunity to produce a film
based on my experience- filmmaking is my second dream. Since the 9th grade, I’ve been
producing documentaries about social issues such as discharging in schools (to secretly kick a
student out because of his or her bad influence on the other students or the school record such as
pregnancy, poor grades, or disturbing behavior), immigration, foster care, and the prison system.
In total, I’ve produced 7 documentary films, two of which have won several awards.
This summer internship provided by the Mississippi Teacher Corps effectively combines
what I am dedicated to most in life, education and film.Perhaps, in the future, I will merge the
two together. This opportunity gives me the ability to immerse myself not only in teaching per
se, but also in a well-rounded experience that will help me achieve my aspirations and goals.It
also allows me to implement skills that I have learned while assisting a math teacher at Holyoke
High, mentoring a middle school student through Big Brother Big Sister, and tutoring elementary
students through America Reads America Counts program.
Like a piece of puzzle, this internship fits right into my aim in life.
What superpower would you like?
Turn back time and read minds.