Friday, May 8, 2009
Negative Numbers, Positive Impact - Brian Donovan
This quick little anecdote is something that recently happened to me that made me realize the immediate impact that volunteering has on the kids at my site. It started with me walking into the library where we do homework tutoring and one of the teachers who I have been working with over the past four years was relieved that I was there to explain addition of negative numbers to one of the students there. I took some time and went over a useful and simple way of thinking about those types of problems with the student until I was beckoned to help another tutor explain a word problem to another child. When I came back I realized that not only had that first student finished her negative number addition section, but she was explaining the method that I had just taught her to one of her classmates! It was truly fulfilling see both the help I had provided that child, but through clear explanation, the help that she was able to then give her peers. It is times like those that make all of my hard work more than worth it and make me love what I do.
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I had a similar experience to Brian at the beginning of this semester. I noticed that a child whom I had never seen before was sitting by himself and trying to figure out the math homework before him. I could tell that he was having some difficulties, so I went over to him to offer my help. To my surprise, he was a native Spanish speaker. He was struggling because he did not understand the words on the page. I struggled, myself, to remember what little Spanish I could from my high school classes. His eyes quickly brightened, and I could tell that he was encouraged. Together, with my broken Spanish and his broken English, we worked through the problem set on fractions. He thanked me, and got up to outside for recess. Before he could leave the library, however, another young child approached me with the same problem set. The first child, seeing that his peer was having the same troubles that he had earlier, rushed back to my side. I was surprised to see that the Spanish-speaking child correctly explained to his peer how to do the problems...in English! I was so thrilled to see that he understood how to do the problems and that he felt encouraged enough to help someone else. I think it is an extremely rewarding feeling to know that you have helped a child to learn in the way that suits them best. You might have to be creative and think quick on your feet, but that is what this program is all about. We are using our talents and knowledge to help kids in need. Everyone needs someone to believe in them, and I feel so grateful to be a part of a program that actively encourages Cornell students to believe in children who need it most.
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