Already providing the third-most Teach for America volunteers, the University’s graduates continue to flock in droves to the public sector. The University sent 46 volunteers into the Peace Corps in 2009, more than any other Ivy League institution, according to statistics released by the agency last Thursday.

As a 2008 Teach for America Corps member, I am serving my second year as a seventh-grade math teacher. Often I find myself wondering what percentage of my students will ever be afforded the opportunity to visit, much less attend, an institution such as Cornell.

Everyone remembers that special teacher who touched his or her life. We all have had that teacher who would go the extra mile to help us individually — a teacher who dug into his or her own pocket book to buy colored pencils for our art projects.

We remember this teacher because he or she did not just make us feel cared for, but also made us feel capable. Due to his or her skill, we were empowered; we were motivated. This teacher clearly did not become a teacher for fame, for glory and certainly not for fortune. This special teacher picked his or her profession because of a desire to help our country reach its full future potential.

The weather chilled. Tests crept up out of nowhere. And we failed. We seriously got, like, actual Fs on the five — six? seven? a million? —VILLAINOUS prelims we took this week. But, no worries! It’s HEROIC Fall Break! Where you goin’? We’re going somewhere, anywhere, please ... just get us out of here ...

In the past two months thousands of newly minted college graduates from our finest colleges and universities became teachers of our neediest children in urban and rural schools across the country. These novices entered the classroom via alternate, fast-track routes such as Teach for America, committing to teach for two years.

The time is ripe to talk about Teach For America. A couple of weeks ago TFA held an on-campus information session. The photos, the data, the stories … the whole thing made me want to stand up and salute something, anything, with a lone tear running down my cheek. On Monday night, I attended an address by Michelle Rhee ’92, D.C. School Chancellor and former Baltimore TFA corps member. Despite the September info-session’s plentiful pizza and pictures, Rhee won the contest for most inspiring hour — ever. She’s amazing, but more on that later.