Myriama Smith Traore

2022 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

“‘Ooh, I know, I know!’ said the racoon in the back of the room, my best imaginary student. I smiled back and said, ‘Can I hear from someone who hasn’t answered yet?’, the same way I heard my Dad do a thousand times in his own college classroom.”

Myriama Smith Traore’s first encounter with teaching was in her father’s chemistry lab when she was five. An immigrant from Burkina Faso, her father faced countless obstacles in his quest for an education, rising to become a professor and teach chemistry in his third language, and using his success to enrich the lives of others from his hometown. As an aspiring English teacher, Myriama hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps by helping all students achieve equal access to education.

Here is Myriama's story about her father, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2022 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.