Elizabeth Olsen with two of the fourth graders from Manuel Ortega, the girls public elementary school in Xela, Guatemala.

By Aaron Crear

Having attended a private prep school it would have been easy to attend an elite university and focus on a lucrative career. Somerville resident Elizabeth Olsen, however, has never been interested in following the crowd or taking the easy path.

Olsen will head to Louisiana in a few weeks to begin a two-year teaching commitment with Teach For America. The organization's goal is to help end the educational inequalities throughout the U.S. by engaging recent college graduates to commit to teaching assignments in underprivileged districts.

Olsen honed her teaching skills on previous service assignments as a second and fourth grade English teacher and medical clinic translator in Guatemala, and an instructor with Think Impact in South Africa teaching the community about the prevention of HIV and AIDS.

"I have always felt a certain comfort, yet challenge, standing in front of a classroom. Working with these organizations also gives me the opportunity to directly contribute to social injustice."

She said that as an outsider she tries to engage and listen to the community to understand their needs.

"It is truly amazing to me the amount of service she has done while graduating with honors at the same time," said Melissa Wagoner, who has known Olsen for several years. Wagoner said Olsen's life is changed by the people she meets during her service. Meeting people from other parts of the world with different walks of life enables Olsen to learn from them as well, Wagoner said.