ACE News
Why ACE?
November 13, 2012
I moved to Austin from Columbus, Ohio, in February 2012. I was over a year out of college, impulsive and anchorless.
“I’m immersing myself in the community,” I told those who asked what I was doing moving here seemingly out of nowhere. But the question I kept asking myself was: “What community?”
After job-hunting for the better part of a year, I felt like I was running out of things to offer. I was all at once excited to experience Austin and completely unsure of how to experience it. So I networked. I worked long hours at restaurants. And in March, I was selected to interview with ACE.
As an English major, I was looking for any way to put my education to good use, but hadn’t narrowed in on anything in particular. Writing, Reading, Communication—I offered my skills in broad terms to numerous employers. ACE was different in this respect because I was also overcome by the possibility of sharing my love of language with kids.
This passion served me well, because when I was offered a position in the 2012–2013 cohort of tutors, I eagerly accepted. I realized I wasn’t just getting a job. As an ACE tutor, I was getting the chance not only to be involved in a community like I wanted, but also the chance to actually build that community myself.
I was fortunate enough to have teachers early in my education whose mentorship and passion for their work has affected me to this very day. I joined because I want to give back what they had given to me: a fervent love of reading, belief in my own capabilities as a student, and guidance toward my future. I was lucky to always be surrounded by people in both my home and school life who prepared me for success. I saw in ACE the opportunity to be one of those people for someone else.
Now, I am reminded of this opportunity every day when I see my students. I want my students to be a part of the lifelong learning cycle that started with those very special people who inspired me to love reading when I was young, and now has brought me back around to inspire them. I get to keep learning every day as I teach—that’s the kind of community I want to be a part of. That’s why I joined ACE.
Beth Weidl
ACE Full-Time Tutor