Volunteers of the Month – March 2025

Raquel Bennett

What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I was inspired to volunteer for School on Wheels after seeing a flyer on the window of a store by my home. It mentioned helping support at-risk and homeless youth, which really resonated with me because I was homeless for a portion of my life when I was a child. I felt as if I was meant to be part of an organization where I could give back to my community and offer my services to children who have similar experiences to mine. Now that I’m in a more stable situation, I felt that it was incredibly important to me that I pay it forward. I also felt as though my experiences could help me connect better with the students at School on Wheels and after applying I never looked back.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
I would tell new volunteers to attend any training available and keep on attending them continuously throughout their volunteering career. Even seeking out educator resources outside of School on Wheels was greatly beneficial for me, because I knew nothing about teaching or the different stages of development in children. I think it’s a great resource offered to tutors and should definitely be taken advantage of!

What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
School on Wheels has been incredibly supportive with any challenges I’ve faced. With the support of the volunteer coordinators and other staff at School on Wheels, there have not been any significant issues during my volunteering time at School on Wheels that I have not been able to handle.

What have you learned from your student?
My student, Khaleesi, has taught me so much. She’s taught me to be more patient through working together on activities. Working with her has also helped me to learn how to be a better communicator and tutor. I wasn’t very sure of my abilities at first because I thought that I wasn’t helping my student fast enough or teaching her enough. After attending several training sessions and understanding my student better, I realized that I’m here to support Khaleesi and be there for her, not to meet any specific academic or social goals. So, I’ve been able to better adapt to Khaleesi’s needs and be patient and compassionate.

Julie Jaskol

What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I saw an email about School on Wheels from LA Works, and I thought, hey I could do that. I had recently retired and was looking for a purpose. Working one-on-one with a kid seemed like a meaningful way to respond to the crisis of homelessness in LA. I had mentored before and I knew I could offer a reliable, caring connection, even if I can’t really do math.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
The same advice my coordinator gave me: meet your student where he or she is; be there for them wherever they are.

What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
My student is independent and strong-willed, and I constantly feel like I’m letting her down by not being stricter about working on the curriculum But when I give up and follow her lead, she takes us remarkable places. I think she benefits from being able to have some control over our sessions. And we are learning to negotiate.

What have you learned from your student?
My student and I are both big sisters, and we both have big sister energy. I see her being bossy and caring and trying to protect the people around her, and I can recognize the same impulses in myself and try to let some of that go.

Elin Schwartz

What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
Since high school, I’ve been drawn to working with kids. In fact, even before that, our next door neighbor “hired” me (50 cents an hour) to teach his son how to read. In college, I volunteered at Headstart and then later returned as a young mother to a Headstart preschool in Venice to do story hour with the kids there once a week. Flash forward to 1995 and my daughter’s high school had a service requirement. Somehow we learned about School on Wheels and were placed with an 11th grade girl at P.A.T.H. who needed homework help. My daughter did the tutoring but because she was under 18, I was required to be there too. And that was my first introduction to School on Wheels. The responsibilities of my job, kids, etc. kept me from becoming more involved at that time. When my mother became ill, I left my job to spend more time with her and became involved with a group called Koreh LA which works through the public schools in the area and places tutors with kids who are struggling to reach grade level literacy. It was an in-school, pull-out program and I did that for about four years with the same little girl, including going to her house during the summer. Through Donors Choose, I also became acquainted with a teacher at Charnock Elementary and began working as her classroom aide for a couple of years. And the last several years, I’ve been back with School on Wheels.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
Just be open to learning your student’s interests and encouraging them by bringing related material and discussing those interests.

What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
My biggest challenges have been when matched with a family where the parents are really not present or interested — which results in a lot of lateness, unreliable attendance, and lack of enthusiasm by the student. The family I work with now is a real inspiration. The parents’ interest and involvement has made a clear impact on my student’s continuing success.

What have you learned from your student?
So many things! She’s taught me everything she knows about trees, fortune teller paper folding, and germs (including the fact that toilet seats are cleaner than cell phones)!

Mahima Manoj

What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I have always believed that education has the power to transform lives. Coming from a family that immigrated to the U.S. from a small town in India, I’ve seen firsthand how education, along with the support of a strong community, can open doors to opportunities I never could have imagined. When I was accepted to UCLA, I knew I wanted to give back to the community that had given me so much. Los Angeles faces significant educational inequities, and I was passionate about making a meaningful impact in bridging that gap. When I learned about School on Wheels, I knew it was the perfect way for me to contribute. Their mission resonated deeply with me, as I believe that every child deserves the chance to learn and grow regardless of their circumstances. By becoming a tutor, I hoped to provide not only academic support but also mentorship, encouragement, and a sense of stability to students who need it most.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a student’s confidence grow. As a tutor, you have the opportunity to help students realize their potential. You get to be a consistent and positive presence in their lives, celebrating their progress, no matter how small, and showing them that someone believes in their success. Your impact extends far beyond the classroom, and in the process, you’ll find yourself learning and growing just as much as your students.

What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
One of the challenges Jesslin has faced is staying focused, especially when there are so many things she’s passionate about. With her curiosity and wide range of interests, it can sometimes be difficult to concentrate on one task at a time. To help with this, we’ve worked on breaking assignments into smaller, manageable steps and incorporating short breaks to keep her engaged. I’ve also encouraged her to set small goals during our sessions, which has helped her stay motivated and build confidence in her ability to tackle challenges. Through this process, she has shown great improvement in her focus and time management, and it’s been amazing to see her determination and growth.

What have you learned from your student?
From Jesslin, I’ve learned the importance of exploring your creative side without fear of judgment. She approaches every project with a sense of curiosity and self-expression, unafraid to experiment and make mistakes along the way. Her openness to trying new things and embracing her unique talents has reminded me that creativity thrives when we allow ourselves to try new things. Jesslin’s ability to stay true to her interests has inspired me to be more confident in my own pursuits and to trust that growth comes from stepping outside of what I know.

Can you share one experience you had with a student that makes you smile?
One of the most memorable experiences I had while working with Jesslin was seeing her passion for learning extend beyond our tutoring sessions. While we focused on strengthening her academic skills, the real highlight always came at the end of our time together. After wrapping up our work, she would excitedly pull out her guitar or sit down at the piano to show me the pieces she had been practicing. What made it even more remarkable was that she had only recently started learning both instruments, yet she played with such confidence and enthusiasm. Watching her perform, it felt as if she had been playing for years. Her dedication to mastering something new was truly inspiring, and those moments served as a powerful reminder that persistence and a love for learning can make all the difference, both in music and academics.