At just 22 years old, Aron Olegnowicz-Cruz has already charted an ambitious career path. He is currently a special education teacher at a charter school in Columbus, Ohio, according to CNBC .

Aron Olegnowicz-Cruz’s journey to teaching was unconventional. With a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from Ohio State University, he considered a career in business.

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Young teacher Aron Olegnowicz-Cruz gave up his scholarship at Harvard University to become a teacher. Photo: CNBC

However, the summer before he was set to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) scholarship at Harvard Business School, Olegnowicz-Cruz learned about Teach for America (TFA) through the Association of Latino Professionals. This completely changed his direction.

Born in Mexico and moving to Ohio as a child, he learned English through the public school system. Dedicated teachers helped him discover his potential and never stop striving. It is these memories that motivate him to inspire students, help them nurture their ambitions and believe in their ability to overcome their limits. He wants everyone to understand that with effort, nothing is impossible.

“I realized that teaching would not only help me achieve my personal goals but also support my long-term career goals,” Olegnowicz-Cruz said. Joining TFA, he saw an opportunity to not only make a positive impact in education but also hone important skills such as partnership management and data analysis.

In the summer of 2024, he attended intensive training to build his teaching skills and completed an internship at his assigned school. He also met all requirements of the Ohio State Board of Education and was officially licensed to teach at a charter school.

This is a type of public school that is established and operated independently from the traditional American public school system. These schools are often free to design their own curriculum, teaching methods, and management, but must still adhere to the basic standards of public education.

Charter schools are licensed to operate through a contract signed with a public education agency. This contract defines the conditions, educational standards, and goals the school must achieve within a certain period of time, usually 3-5 years. What is special is that charter schools do not charge tuition and can attract students from many areas.

Olegnowicz-Cruz doesn't deny the challenges of teaching, but she feels the program has prepared her well, from professional training to support resources.

TFA's teaching and working methods are particularly appealing to Gen Zers like Olegnowicz-Cruz, who value work-life balance, financial stability, and the opportunity to make a positive impact at a young age.

With an annual salary of 49,000 USD (about 1.2 billion VND), the young man has a comfortable life in the city of Columbus.

Although his journey with Teach for America will only last two years, Olegnowicz-Cruz is already preparing for his next steps. He plans to pursue an MBA or master's in leadership in China and intern at a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.

He is particularly interested in economic development and improving the quality of education in disadvantaged areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. He believes that the skills he has learned from teaching will help him make a greater impact in global education systems.

Teacher has 3 articles in international journals/year, Ministry of Education honors Outstanding Teacher As a high school teacher, Mr. Le Trong Duc (Hau Nghia High School, Long An province) impressed with 6 scientific articles, of which 4 works are in prestigious international journals.