My internship site is The Equity Institute, a Providence-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering local educators by supporting them as they earn their teaching certification. My first major project was creating Praxis test prep videos. In order to earn a teaching license, one must pass Praxis exams in their respective content area or age band. I have been using an online program called Fliki to create Praxis review videos for prospective elementary teachers in areas including science, reading, math, social studies, and special education. Members of Equity Institute's Educator Pathway Program (EPP) will be able to access these videos to help prepare for their Praxis exams. My second major project revolves around Artificial Intelligence. By interviewing full-time staff members and hosting roundtable discussions with EPP members, I am helping the organization better understand the role of AI in Rhode Island education and how to support future teachers with AI in the classroom.

A highlight of the program has been the community I've been able to build. I've met some genuinely brilliant people through my program who are so knowledgeable and passionate about education, which is exactly what I hoped for when joining this program. I've made some amazing friends throughout the year that will stay with me long after I graduate. Beyond my classmates, my professors have been amazing! Their effort to connect with us, make the classes engaging, and willingness to help and offer support made this year much more manageable, and I thank them sincerely for all they did.

The career center and their various departments have been most valuable for me this year. They are the administrative office I sought out the most and where I have had the most meetings. Whether it's for resume review, helping find job opportunities, or just a friendly chat to bounce off ideas, I thank the representatives (specifically Komal and Amanda) for their open minds, their encouragement, and constructive advice. This goes for any resource, but the more informed you are going into the meeting about specific goals and talking points, the more effective these meetings are.

I owe my motivation to pursue a master's in Urban Education Policy to my previous work experience. I graduated from my undergrad intending to pursue biomedical research, but ended up a speech clinician at a company called Lindamood-Bell. Working with the kids and seeing the impact of my work changed my path completely, as I felt better about the work I was doing and was far more interested in the research questions I was forming about pedagogy and curriculum. I decided to commit to education and taught high school chemistry at Victory College Prep, a charter school in Indianapolis, Indiana. The disparities and inequities I experienced while teaching fueled my desire to pursue UEP. There is a lot of work to do in order for our schools to cultivate the right environments for kids to succeed and Brown's Urban Education Policy program is a tool to help create those environments.

Honestly, being able to put all this experience and knowledge into practice! I've spent the last few years preparing for what feels like this moment. Through a combination of my classroom experience and my coursework, I feel like I'm finally in a place to make informed, valuable opinions and insights about the inequities that plague our education system. I'm excited to work with people who care about education as much as I do and recognize how valuable it is to support it. A new chapter is beginning, and one that I feel good about starting. It is time to transition from theory into action.

If you are considering a master's at Brown, the cliche of time goes by quickly is painfully true. Your time, while transformational and productive, is limited. Even more so than your undergraduate experience, the initiative is on you to take advantage of resources, connect with faculty and alumni, and find opportunities. That's not to say you won't be supported. There are so many resources and the campus is small enough that they are accessible and supportive in a personal manner. The relationships you build with career advisors and other administrative staff is helpful and valuable, but it is your responsibility to develop them. Also, there is an entire world on campus outside of your program and department. Though time is short and you'll rightfully want to focus on completing your degree, take time to connect with the campus and the greater Providence community. There are countless fascinating, brilliant people around you, and it would be a shame to pass on the chance to connect with some of them. There are tons of events on campus and in the city to connect you with people, and you should, because it's a warm community with friendly people.