Reflective Essay: Tutoring Service

The crown jewel of my personal achievements is a tutoring service I established for sixth graders at my local elementary school, run by volunteers I recruited, both for the undeniable positive effects it has had on the students, as well as what it has meant for me personally in demonstrating my capabilities and the potential of what I can accomplish. It all began when I joined a small math tutoring club at my high school, rather than following the many students who joined Key Club just because “it looks good for college admissions”. I felt that I was not being true to myself if I settled for something I did not have a passion for, and it quickly became evident that I had made the right choice.

Unfortunately, the club I joined disbanded shortly
But with every positive development, from the administration at my school approving my initiative, to teachers at the elementary school expressing their support and contributing their ideas, to recruiting tutors that I felt would be positive assets of the students, I became more and more confident in my ability to lead and complete the tasks I held myself to. It was only after the first session was complete that I was able to remove myself from the trees and see the forest I had helped plant - it was viscerally satisfying to look around and think "This is truly meaningful".

Objectively, while the tutoring has led to marked improvements in the skills of my students, it has also served to mature me as well by seeing firsthand the positive effect a band of high school tutors can create with just their time and dedication. This belief has been strengthened by the fact that demand for my volunteers has been so overwhelming that not only have we have expanded to three classrooms full of students, the administration has taken steps to limit future enrollment to a need only