In the line of duty: My volunteer work

A few days ago, I received an exciting email from the organization in which I happily volunteered for during the 2009-2010 school year. It was three separate emails with references to the assessment testing done to three students that I had worked closely with several hours a week this year. Each email contained the students’ name, grade, and teacher along with their outstanding results.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest as I read each result quietly to myself. I wasn’t sure if the sharp pang was from my painkillers medication or if it was just my cold, beating heart trying to warm up and allow emotions to dawdle within it.

When I first started working with each student, I noticed the uneasiness and the struggles each students had with reading.

My oldest student, who I met with once a week after my cycle class at 24 Hour Fitness, was a very bright student with an interesting Irish name. This student’s picture is featured on the school’s wall of high honor students who excelled in their studies. Given that the student is smart, this student really struggled with reading. I wasn’t sure why since, judging from this student’s personal file: grew up a normal life with two supportive yet adoring parents and a much older half-brother. I won’t disclose anymore details on this students’ normal life, but I’m glad this student was able to jump from being two grade levels behind on reading and rising to an astonishing 2.65 grade levels within a year.

The two other students had unfortunate pasts that affected their school studies greatly along with being unable to read at their respective grade levels. With enough push and shove, I’m proud to say, these two students have improved by moving a little over one grade level up on their reading skills.

Honestly, that makes me tear up a little. A little one on one with each student for a couple of hours a week was all it took to see big improvements and big smiles.

I’m hoping that once September rolls around, I’ll start volunteering as a reading tutor again before I start my full time job in November. I wish there was a way in which I could take two or three hours off a week to tutor more students or the same ones in the program. But knowing how my future job is already, I’m not even too sure if my line of work will permit any time off before 5pm. The world of politics and policies is demanding but I love it. I wish I didn’t have a desire to work in state or federal policies. That way I could focus more time on helping others in need. 

A little advice: helping your community can be therapeutic. It certainly has helped me.

*smug* =)