Aurora, a 2026 graduate and four-year-coach, delivered these remarks at a recent celebration:
My name is Aurora Currie Palmer. This is my 4th year doing Team Read. I am a site assistant and coach at Campbell Hill Elementary and a Team Read ambassador.
When I was a freshman, my mom recommended that I join Team Read; I said yes because I had a little bit of interest in becoming a teacher, and I was open to career options as I was still unsure of my future. It was also a good opportunity to get out of the house, out of my comfort zone, and an opportunity to meet new people.
So I did Team Read, and I really struggled. There were times when I wanted to give up, but I didn’t. I pushed through, worked all the way until the end of the year, telling myself that I tried something new, and I didn’t have to do it next year if I didn’t want to!
The next year, I surprised myself. When registration came around, I decided to apply, and I had a wonderful 2nd year. After my second year, I knew that Team Read was right for me and discovered through the program that teaching was my future.
For my last year of Team Read, I decided to not just coach and be a site coordinator but also sign up and become a Team Read ambassador to extend everything I’ve learned not just onto my site at Campbell Hill, but also onto my community. Becoming a Team Read ambassador is one of the best decisions I have made. Through the people I have met, the friends I have made, and the skills I have learned, I now believe that I will be the best version of myself when I am a teacher.
I’d like to thank the people who have gotten me to where I am now. My mom for giving me this opportunity, Mrs. Smith for being the most wonderful support at every step of my teaching career, Sandy for being there through every Team Read hardship our site experienced, Sky for being an excellent leader, and Mumina for supporting the Team Read Ambassadors program. Thank you, Team Read, for putting me on my path to education.