What I Love About Tutoring

My younger self would never have guessed that I would grow up to be a tutor. I didn’t take high school seriously and when I graduated, I jumped straight into the workforce, landing a role on the assembly line at a General Motors factory. It was a great job because I enjoyed my coworkers, it paid well, and as a bonus, we had lengthy holiday breaks. Yet, something was missing. My days felt unfulfilled, and I longed for a deeper sense of purpose. At 22, I quit my General Motors and enrolled into college.

At the beginning of college I worked some odd jobs from being a Zamboni driver, to a life insurance agent, none of which were able to fill me with any sense of purpose. Then I landed a position as an after-school counselor at the YMCA, and my life was changed forever. Work became enjoyable, exciting, and most important of all, meaningful. I had found that working with students filled me with that sense of purpose that I had longed for. Here’s why tutoring has become such a cherished part of my life:

Making an Evident Impact

Few careers allow you to see the fruits of your labor like tutoring does. On a regular basis, I am fortunate to witness significant, tangible changes in my students. They become more confident, curious, and resilient, all while improving their academic performance. Some of my proudest moments come from seeing these transformations and knowing that I played a part in their success. Additionally, at the end of each academic year, I am able to see my students achieve the goals that they had hoped for at the beginning of our meetings. The large smiles and wide eyes that my students express when they reach their goals fills me with pride.

Working Towards a Better Future

My primary goal when tutoring is to foster a love for learning in my students that can stay with them for life. I believe that it is human nature to love to learn. Often, my students try to disagree with me. 

One particular student comes to mind. He claimed to hate learning with a passion that rivaled my love for travel. As a digital nomad, it’s fair to say that I love traveling. He said that it was so boring that it made watching golf exciting. One day, when the workload was low, I pressed him on his hatred for learning. In an attempt to show him that he could find learning interesting, I asked what he was interested in. He quickly blurted out, “money!” – because who isn’t interested in a sack of money? We spent the next 15 minutes researching the richest people in the world and how they made their money. I left him to go work with other students, but was able to bump into him before we left for the night– Just in time to hear about his get rich quick scheme and his plans to research all there is to know about economics. Even he accidentally fell into the thrill of learning.

This approach helps them achieve short term academic success, but it also promotes personal and professional success later in life. Lifelong learners are statistically more likely to be confident, creative, social, and adaptable. These traits promote a happier, more fulfilling life.

Becoming a lifelong learner doesn’t just impact the individual, but it also has a profound impact on society. They tend to be more open-minded, more tolerant, better decision makers, and better educators themselves. 

Every Student is Unique

One of the most rewarding aspects of tutoring is the diversity among my students. Each student brings their own strengths, challenges, knowledge, personality, and culture, which makes every tutoring session a unique experience. My students have taught me a lot, made me laugh a lot, and helped me grow as a person. Getting to know them, understanding their perspectives, and helping them overcome obstacles is incredibly fun and rewarding.

Knowledge-Based

Tutoring allows me to monetize my passion for learning. Even though I didn’t always like school, I have always loved acquiring new knowledge, and tutoring provides a perfect outlet for this habit. Being an effective tutor means I must be an expert of the material I am tutoring and an expert of learning techniques. To maintain my expertise, I must continuously study, learn, and challenge myself.

So, if I could go back and tell my younger self about our future, I’d say, “You will find a career that is as fun as it is rewarding. You will change lives, foster growth, and deep dive into your love of learning.” If you or someone you know is interested in receiving tutoring from someone who is passionate about it, please reach out!