Picayune native Jasmine Thomas opted for the road less traveled when she graduated college with a degree in elementary education.

Instead of choosing to teach in a traditional classroom, Thomas decided to broaden her horizons and teach students within a low-income community through Teach for America. The national non-profit organization aims to expand educational opportunities for students in low-income communities by placing teachers where they’re needed, according to a press release issued by the organization.

“I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher since I was 4,” Thomas said. “I joined the organization to fight poverty and teach in areas where children aren’t provided an equal education because of their zip code.”

Thomas was accepted into the program last year and began teaching this past May at KIPP Memphis Academy Elementary in Memphis, Tenn.

Before she was accepted, Thomas worked diligently throughout the application process to ensure she would be selected into the organization.

“We had to write essays, take tests and I had to submit videos of me teaching,” Thomas said.

While the application process was rigorous, Thomas said her hard work paid off. She was one of the 10,000 applicants selected out of the 40,000 who applied for the organization’s 2015 teaching corps.

Before Thomas decided to teach in Memphis through Teach for America, she was trained, along with other teachers, to work in public schools within low-income areas through structure coaching and development in order to prepare for the two-year commitment.

Thomas, a 2010 graduate from Picayune Memorial High School and a 2015 graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi, is currently teaching second grade at the academy in Tennessee.

While Thomas said it’s been an “adjustment coming from a small town to a big city,” it’s been a positive experience.

“I’ve learned a lot about teaching and am enjoying building relationships with my students and their families,” Thomas said.

Only 6 percent of students in America will graduate college by the time they’re 25. Thomas joins a group of 50,0000 corps members and alumni working towards increasing that percentage, according to the release.

Thomas credits one of her own teachers for inspiring her to pursue a career in education.

“Having that one particular teacher when I was growing up inspired me and made me want to help people learn,” Thomas said.

Through Teach for America, Thomas, along with other teachers, will be eligible to receive scholarships and grants and attend top graduate schools, Thomas said.

For the past 25 years, Teach for America has launched thousands of careers and their alumni have gone on to become leaders in school systems, politics, non-profit work and advocacy, according to the release.

Thomas said she plans on being in Memphis for a while and work towards ensuring today’s youth become tomorrow’s leaders.

For more information about Teach for America, visit https://www.teachforamerica.org.