I made a resolution at the beginning of the year to complete 100 volunteer hours in 2020. I did some research on different tutoring organizations and programs and it was apparent School on Wheels was a great place to be. I wanted to be a part of it! I’ve been volunteering as a tutor since I was in high school — almost 15 years now — and I spent most of that time as a literacy tutor. When I moved from Virginia to Los Angeles about 3 years ago I realized this was something I missed doing. One of my favorite memories so far is when my student Ariana and I were working on ratios; at one point, Ariana suddenly blurted out “this is easy!” and it was both funny and rewarding to hear. I was so proud of her and happy that she was getting the concepts down. Volunteering as a tutor is incredibly rewarding. You get to see your student’s grades improve, and their confidence grow right along with it. Don’t second guess on whether or not to do it — sign up today, you will not regret it!

School on Wheels is a wonderful organization to work with. I’d been interested in becoming a teacher for some time and wanted more experience working with children in an academic setting. Now I am considering becoming a pediatrician as children are such a joy to work with. Additionally, I wanted to help teach homeless students because a past college student of mine was greatly affected by their housing situation. No child should be left behind, and working with School on Wheels helps me empower them to reach new heights. My first student struggled in math, but with practice, she got through the problems faster and faster. One day, I presented her with a challenge problem and her eyes lit up. As a reward for tackling it, I gave her an extra sticker of her favorite animal, the lion. At the end of the session, she walked over and gave a sticker to her brother, who was also being tutored. She gave me hope. Tutoring these kids is such a unique experience; you will meet families of varying walks of life and get to know their stories. As a tutor, our primary goal is to provide academic assistance, but School on Wheels also trains us to help students work through their emotions and allow us to mentor them, so we are having a positive impact on their lives, often in ways not traditionally thought of as a regular tutor.

I have had my own struggles with school. I know the hardships and difficulty that academics entail. I had trouble staying focused in class and have felt the anxiety and stress that comes with not knowing if you have what it takes to graduate. Without the support of those around me, I don’t know if I would have gotten to where I am today, on track to graduate from CSUF with a major in Physics. Knowing that there must be others experiencing these anxieties, I looked for tutoring jobs and came across School on Wheels. Realizing there are children who must go through the same classes I did, but with less sleep and other issues because of their living situation is what convinced me School on Wheels was the right opportunity for me to give back to my community. For me, the best moments involve breaking down any walls separating us; I get this chance with all my students, and it is a blissful moment every time. One example was a very dismissive student who started out ignoring me to play video games — and ended with him excitedly retelling and discussing a short story we read together. All my students have had this change and it always warms my heart to see them willing to meet me halfway and really get serious about their academics. It puts everything else into perspective and is the closest thing to a magical experience.

When I found School on Wheels online, I was instantly drawn to it and it’s mission. After retiring from teaching elementary school for 25 years and relocating, I realized that I really missed the kids. Working with these children has been an incredible experience for me and my family this past school year. I had the pleasure of tutoring a family in Starbucks in a Target store, and also after school in a homework club, but the pandemic has wreaked havoc on families struggling with homelessness and I lost touch. Fortunately, School on Wheels was able to locate one of my families, and I was able to provide support throughout the spring despite each of their 3 motel moves. These kids are so resilient! One of my favorite memories is when one of the sisters told me that she sets up a little office in the bathroom of their motel room to work on math when her brothers get too loud. She wants to grow up to be a brain surgeon, “for kids!” In these trying times, kids need volunteer tutors more than ever to help them to continue learning. It is very stressful not having a physical classroom to go to or the necessary technology to learn remotely, while their parents are dealing with job loss and worrying about how to feed their children.

I started volunteering to try and help more children learn to love learning as much as I do, especially Math. I volunteer with Schools on Wheels specifically because I agree with their core values and message. One memory that stands out for me is when there was a big math test coming up. My student Jasmin and I were reviewing the content and Jasmin felt very prepared for the test when she left the session. And the next week, she told me that she got a really high score! It made me smile because I was so proud of her, but also Jasmin was very proud of herself and she felt like she did her best on the test and really understood the material. I loved seeing Jasmin believe in herself and prove to herself that she could do anything she put her mind to, especially in a subject that was challenging for her. Anyone who is even slightly thinking of volunteering, I would say go for it! It is one of the best feelings to know you are making a positive difference in someone else’s life, and it’s even better when you see that difference is being made. To watch someone blossom into a confident person in front of you is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.

My mom and I were looking for volunteering opportunities for me, and when we came across the School on Wheels program, I absolutely loved the idea of tutoring those children in need. I always wanted to make an impact in our community by helping others, and I’ve discovered that there are so many ways to contribute. One wonderful experience I had with my student Selena was when she passed her post assessment. We were both extremely happy that she did so well on it and that all of her hard work finally paid off. Becoming a volunteer tutor is a big step in contributing; it’s an amazing way to be able to help our community and others in need. Creating bonds with students is a big part when tutoring, and helps both the tutor and the student grow together.