For the past three semesters, I have had the privilege of working as a tutor in the field of Earth Science. It was never a field I would have chosen for myself, but when I was offered the chance to help others, I took it. Through this experience, I have come to love and respect science in a way I never did before. I see tutoring as my opportunity to impart my new found love with other students.
I would like to share with you one of my favorite memories from my second semester of tutoring in Earth Science. We were preparing for a test and, as usual, I met with the professor beforehand to compile a list of important information for me to cover at the review session. I was not familiar with one of the last items on the list and I expressed concern to the professor. He assured me that I did not need to worry; there was a sufficient explanation in the book. With that, we parted ways and I put it out of my mind.
The afternoon of the test review, I sat down to prepare my lesson plan. In reading through my list, I discovered the concept I did not know. After scouring the chapter, the index, and every other place I could think of, I was quite sure that this term was not to be found. I wondered what my tutees would think when I went before them and confessed my ignorance. But since it was almost time for our meeting, I had little other choice.
Earth Science is a general education required class and is taken entirely by non-science majors. I have always made it my practice to let the students know that I am not a science major either, and I do not claim to know all there is to know about any aspect of physical science. To make sure we had the concept right, I had them draw pictures of the actual phenomenon and then placed the most accurate one in the last section of the board. We had tamed our beast and we were all proud!
I share this with you not because I think it shows my great skills as a tutor, but because I think this experience cuts to the heart of what tutoring is all about. Being a tutor is not about me showing off how much I know or even enlightening confused freshman, but empowering each student who comes through my program with the abilities and tools they will need to conquer the beasts of a difficult subject. The best thing I can do for others is to help ignite the passion for learning that someone once lit in me.
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