Why I Tutor

My excuses for not tutoring were probably common ones: too busy at my job, too busy with my own kids, don’t call my mother enough. But two things tipped me over.

The first was a book, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder. The book tells the story of this world-class physician, a professor at Harvard, passionately working on global medical issues, but who spends most of his time personally tending the sick at a clinic he built in the poorest part of Haiti.

I’m no Paul Farmer, but I was humbled by his example. It got me to examine my own life. I too have global interests—in literacy and libraries. But what was I doing about them right here in Palm Beach County?

The other factor was watching my sons go through their busy high school years while obligated to do community service as part of their graduation requirements. I was skeptical about mandatory volunteerism…until I saw how good it was for them. I saw their perspectives widen and the satisfaction they gained by helping others.

So, after years of being a small financial contributor to the Literacy Coalition, I picked up the phone and called Darlene Kostrub and tentatively uttered the words, “I think I’d like to tutor.”

After about nine months, here’s what I can report.

The few hours each week I tutor charge me up physically and spiritually. Why? Because I’ve developed such a deep respect for the adult students.
They come from Haiti and Mexico and El Salvador and Honduras, and they work at least one full-time job before quickly cleaning up and coming to school. They are diligent and calmly enthusiastic. Sitting with them reminds me of what made this country great—all the millions of immigrants who had the courage to leave home in search of hard work and opportunity. The adult students at Village Academy carry on that great tradition—they expect nothing but to work hard and to gradually get ahead.

I’m surprised how easy it is for a native speaker of English to help them in their studies. And even more surprised how rewarding it is.
The other Tuesday I was walking down the hall and a group of students passed with smiles on their faces and one said to me, “Hi, teacher.”
Teacher.

I’m not curing the world, but who knows—maybe someday, one of those students who calls me teacher will.

 

Steve Leveen is the CEO and co-founder of Levenger.