Hi, my name is Jade McKenzie. I am a fourth grade teacher at a predominantly African-American, low-income, high-risk school in Washington, D.C. about to go on the adventure of my life.  Working in D.C. has been a journey to say the least. I wasn't prepared to have so many students with so many burdens, but we made too many strides to ever be sorry for ourselves. We are learning in my classroom to advocate for ourselves and our community, but also, that whatever you percieve you recieve. So, if you see the world as a great place, greatness will follow. The happiest people in life don't have the best of everything, but they make the best out of everything. 

I am a Teach for America Corps Member, currently getting my Master's of Science in Education at Johns Hopkins.  I want to change education on a global scale and teaching in Thailand is my first opportunity to do so.

There are a lot of program fees, way more than I had anticipated including school placement, work visa, flight, and training. For the first time in my life, I'm throwing myself out there without a safety net. With the strong support and persuasion of my roommate,  I decided to swallow my pride and ask for help. She exclaimed if I didn't start a gofundme account, she would make one for me. 

Tupac said, "I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world." 

My hope is to bring what I learn in Thailand back to my classroom. I want to show my Black and Brown students that there is an entire globe you can experience outside of YouTube, that they too can travel and make a difference, and most of all, that they share similar dreams with students of different cultures. 

In 2016, I want to plant seeds that more students will harvest later on in life. Thank you for your support and the opportunity to share my story.