by Kirndeep Singh (ks3647@tc.columbia.edu)
During my undergraduate career, I would whine and whimper searching for courses that felt challenging. All I wanted was meaningful and engaging classes. Various factors influenced my boredom. I was uninterested in my major, apathetic towards my course work and ignoring my passions. When I enrolled in Teachers College, I thought this was finally my opportunity to be challenged, but I was quickly proven wrong.
Through my courses at TC, I recognized that I did not want to be in a challenging environment; what I craved was a nurturing environment. An environment that focused on me as a holistic individual, not just as a student. I was able to pursue my passions and focus on how I wanted to create sustainable impact. At TC, I was also given access to the greater Columbia community. I slowly took courses at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and the Earth Institute. Eventually, I discovered the great work done by The Center for Sustainable Futures at Teachers College. Over the past two years, I have been able to solidify my goals, gain valuable skills, and focus on environmental reform.
At Teachers College, you are surrounded by peers who actively push for reform on campus, and throughout New York City. Not only are you able to study in a beautiful building, but you are also given access to large scale databases, research tools, and unparallel knowledge. Each individual and department, from the library staff to the talented baristas, come together to provide you with a wholesome education.
As a graduating student, I have gained more than an education at Teachers College. I have gained a community of like-minded peers who are committed to preserving our futures through education. The faculty is ready to assist students and provide you with the resources you need to thrive. Our courses are tough but fair and, in the end, I promise you, you will not want to leave.
I know that as my career continues to evolve, I will always have a base to come back to in the City of New York. I have the backing of a renowned institution and the experience I need to enact critical policy reforms. I feel prepared to tackle the climate crisis. Each day I am reassured that we will be able to come to a solution because, through Columbia University, I consistently meet intelligent, capable, and driven individuals who are willing to collaborate to solve our most pressing problems. Through Teachers College, I have received more than an education; I have gained a community.