Team Read has been one of the most formative leadership experiences of my life—though I will be the first to admit that I did not necessarily go into it with a heart of gold and a do-gooder’s need for righteousness. Instead, my initial reasons for joining leaned more toward the shallow. When I first applied, I was looking for something practical: a job that would look good for colleges and ideally did not involve too much stress. I already had some experience working with kids from volunteering at a daycare, so tutoring seemed manageable enough. My plan was simple: help a student read, play some word games, and quietly collect my paycheck. What I found instead was something far more challenging, but also all the more rewarding for it.