In 2003, as a student at CMU (Central Michigan University), I was asked by one of my Professor's to tutor a refugee student from Sudan. I had to help him in English, Chemistry, Math and Life Skills. He worked hard and was able to graduate with a Bachelor's of Science and currently attends another University where, he is working on his Master's degree. In the last ten years, I have lectured my classmates on subjects where my Professors lacked understanding and I have tutored high school students who want to play in sports, but cannot make the grade, as well as, Ells (English Language Learners), ESL students (English as a Second Language) and ETL students (English as a Third Language).
My philosophy is that every student has the potential to learn and more often than not, each one is missing certain links that would allow her/him to see the whole picture of what they are trying to understand. As a Professional Poet, Paramedic Instructor Coordinator, and Educator, I am able to help our kids create within their minds a whole picture through the use of analogies of things they love, like sports, art, poetry, equine, etc. I find my students to be exceptionally bright and when they are willing to work hard, I am willing to work harder to help them understand what they are learning, while allowing them to reap the benefits of their labor. The only thing I will not do is their homework for them, because their skills must build tomorrow upon those things they learn today.
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