The Critical Decision Point in Early Careers
When Jack Waxman, a government major at Cornell, was a senior, he faced a choice that many young professionals encounter: pursue a prestigious role on Capitol Hill in Senator Chuck Schumer's office where he had interned, or commit two years to teaching at a school in East Harlem through Teach for America.
Illustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani / The Atlantic
The Power of Proximity to Problems
Having founded Teach for America in 1989 and later Teach for All—a network spanning more than 60 countries—Wendy Kopp has spent nearly four decades trying to inspire young people like Jack to work directly with low-income communities. She notes this path has always been challenging, and has only become more difficult over time.
Jack was genuinely drawn to Teach for America, but felt torn by the pull of prestige and the fear of falling behind peers headed to elite institutions like Harvard Law School. His most meaningful experiences in high school and college involved working on issues he cared about alongside the people affected by them—from teaching math to inmates at a correctional facility to advocating against tobacco corporations targeting his generation with flavored e-cigarettes.
A Conversation That Changed Everything
A pivotal conversation with a Teach for America alumnus working in government sharpened Jack's understanding that proximity to problems matters. She lamented that many policymakers operate from "bubbles of power and prestige," making decisions far removed from the communities they affect. This insight helped Jack recognize that direct experience with the people impacted by policies could provide invaluable perspective.
The Choice That Matters
Jack ultimately chose the classroom, demonstrating how early career decisions can reflect deeper values about how to create meaningful change. This story illustrates a broader truth: first jobs aren't just stepping stones—they're opportunities to engage directly with societal challenges and develop the empathy and understanding needed to address them effectively.
About the Author
Wendy Kopp is the CEO and co-founder of Teach for All, and the founder of Teach for America.
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