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Allegheny College junior Becca Winton wanted to take a hands-on approach to make a positive impact in underserved communities — and Generation Teach was the ideal opportunity. Through the program, Winton spent six weeks providing academic opportunities to children in schools in Providence, Rhode Island, during summer 2021. 

Winton was selected for a Generation Teach summer fellowship from a nationwide pool of applicants. The opportunity helped fulfill a requirement for her education studies minor at Allegheny. But for Winton, the experience was more profound than a simple curricular requirement.

“One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of resilience. Every day brought new challenges that forced me to grow,” says Winton, a double major in history and global health studies. “I also learned how amazing kids are and what a privilege it is to teach young people.” 

The experience not only gave Winton insight into what it is like to be a teacher, but it also helped to teach her how to be an ally for students of color. 

“There is a huge lack of representation among teachers in the U.S., and Generation Teach helped me begin understanding how I as a white woman can best serve students who are different from me,” Winton says. “Education gives people agency and the ability to become your own person. Education is important because it has the potential to give people freedom. It is an extremely powerful tool.”

Learn more about Winton’s Generation Teach experience featured in a news story from WJAR,  From law to chemistry, Rhode Island takes summer learning to a new level.