Ian Trillo
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Ian Trillo
Spring Semester 2004
At the beginning of the semester I had an idea to fill in some “extra” time between
classes, I had no idea about what to expect. Initially I had approached the idea of
tutoring with a small amount of trepidation. I had questions about my own qualifications
as well as if I wanted to devout so much time a week to something other than my own studies.
I already had fourteen units as well as a job and knew that study time was going to be at a
premium. With questions still unanswered, I plunged into the abyss.
I have always known that the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else,
and tutoring is that and so much more. I had run study groups for some of my classes and
they seem to have turned out well, we all got good grades, so I figured that tutoring could
not be much different and in some ways, it was not. As it turned out the little things about
tutoring are what has made the experience so fulfilling. It sounds somewhat hokey but I am
excited about learning, and as it turns out that this is even more valuable than the answers
to math problems. Many students have passed through the doors of the LAP thinking that they
were at the end of their rope, discouraged and disillusioned they sit down and minutes later
they are back on their feet, rejuvenated. While gathering their books and papers the students
breathlessly say, “Wow, thanks a lot. When are you here again? I am coming back.” Helping a
student in a small way can make a big difference and being a part of this new love for
learning is a great feeling. Sending a student away with a completely new perspective,
and have them come back with a thanks for a grade on a test, what a rush. I never thought
at the beginning of the semester that I would get so much of a return on such a small
investment of time. I have made some wonderful friends and have learned a lot in the process.
However, I think the most fulfilling part about being a tutor is walking into the LAP and
finding students that I had tutored helping one another, I felt a small twinge of rejection
but that soon passed, replaced with overwhelming pride. I really had helped these students,
and the proof was they did not need me anymore. They also believed that the best way to learn
something is to teach it to someone else.
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