Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150-400 words)
As I entered the classroom, I saw thirty kids sitting at their desks, some goofing off and others bent over their work. I paced the room, looking over shoulders to check their progress. One student, Rodrigo, was hiding in a corner, folding paper airplanes. I crouched down and impatiently asked him why he was not doing his work. He looked at me, rolled his eyes, and grumbled, “It’s boring.” Unfolding one of the planes, I found his math worksheet and realized that he had correctly solved the three most difficult problems.
My passion for tutoring began freshman year when I volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club. During junior year, I took on a more significant role at the Multicultural Institute and began volunteering at a local elementary school. Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, I feel re-energized as I walk into Fair Oaks Elementary because I love helping students grasp new concepts and watching them apply what they learn.
I quickly recognized that Rodrigo was more advanced than his peers. While I searched for a way to challenge Rodrigo, I asked him to help his friends finish their homework. To determine his level, I found some sample math worksheets for the grade level above. He finished quickly and proved to be one to two grades ahead. After that day, I began giving him more appropriate work and the responsibility of helping his peers.
Rodrigo’s behavior changed immediately. He was no longer disruptive, always engaged in his work, and very supportive of his classmates’ learning. Each week his math skills improved, but he was still behind in reading and writing. Struggling in humanities and excelling in mathematics helped him understand that each student has unique strengths and weaknesses, and gradually, his attitude toward overcoming challenges evolved. He became eager to learn and his energy was infectious.
This experience taught me the importance of helping students see their own potential for growth, because without confidence in their abilities to learn, progress is impossible. I hope Rodrigo remembers that there is always more to master and that he should never limit himself to simply what is required or expected. Similarly, I realized that there is always more I can do, whether it is in my volunteer work, class, or dance, to make a lasting impact or change a trajectory of a person’s life.