This past fall semester (2017) I worked as a Peer Tutor in the Learning Assistance Center at the University of Cincinnati. Besides tutoring in many different courses, I had the opportunity to present to incoming freshman on October 13th about the LAC and what it offers students as a resource as well as as a job. Along with a fellow student worker, we discussed the benefits of working on campus and how it can also count as a pre-approved honors experience (what a great added bonus!). For me, this presentation was so easy because there really isn't a downside to working at the LAC. Through my one semester, I made so many friends who I never would have met because we are studying completely different subjects and had the chance to learn a lot from all of the mentors. On top of being a great resource that I have personally used as a UC student, the LAC offers me the chance to learn different learning styles and how to be a leader.
I loved my semester working on campus that I agreed to return this semester. There aren't many opportunities to earn an honors experience where you can also be paid! For me, that is definitely one of the reasons why I chose to work and continue to work at the LAC. Tutoring students in all levels of courses that I have taken has taught me to look at problems different ways and approach solutions in a way I would never have thought of. I have even applied these lessons to my own classes when I get stuck. An added bonus is that the staff are incredible and so understanding about college students' schedules; something that off campus jobs are not the best at understanding. The flexibility in my schedule allows me to work when I have a break between classes or after my classes are done for the day.
Now that I have a semester under my belt, I can truly see how beneficial being a peer tutor has been. Before presenting to students/parents at the college fair event, I reflected on what I had truly learned in my few months as a peer tutor and what the LAC has done for me. Upon reflection, I learned how to be more confident with myself, I became much better at time-management, and I learned that my way is not always the only way to come to the same solution. Being a tutor has, also, improved my organization. Because of tutoring in between classes and working another job on campus, I have had to prioritize my time and stay organized more than I have had to in the past when I could procrastinate. My presentation allowed me to gain a perspective on my job that I would never have considered before. I look forward to continuing my career at the LAC and seeing what else this pre-approved honors experience can provide for me!
In order to count my semester as an honors experience, I had to write an essay on leadership. I attached the essay below to illustrate how my experience as a peer tutor has shaped my understanding of what being a leader truly means.
leadership_essay.docx | |
File Size: | 154 kb |
File Type: | docx |