Lending a Helping Hand: Students volunteer to Virtual Tutor and Mentor Others

   As Clemens turns to remote learning, many students who usually receive tutoring at school are now struggling to find ways to find help with homework. Virtual tutoring and mentoring is now an option for all students to still recieve help. Students in IB, National Honor Society, JROTC, and PE partners, will host meetings during the weekdays, to offer assistance to students who are struggling with online assignments.

   A major disadvantage to remote learning is students may not get the help they are used to receiving when at school. With the help of a virtual tutor, a student in need can get guidance in any subject. This includes school assignments, questions, and receiving advice. The tutors are students who excel in a variety of subjects as well. Even if students do not need help academically, a virtual mentor is available to help socially. A virtual mentor provides students organization skills, adapting to online school, and offers friendly conversations as well. Depending on what day and time the student decides on, will determine which students host the zoom meeting. 

   “I decided to volunteer because I have the resilience. I want to share that attitude with my classmates during these uncertain times,” Xavier Alex (11), said. “I hope that some of the students won’t let this make them fall behind”

   Advisers including assistant principal Mrs.Henry, Colonel Bass, Mrs. Mumme, and Coach Tollison are teachers that can be contacted to sign up. An email should be sent to the advisors stating what help is needed, and the student will be added to the list. The students who signed up to volunteer their time, are used to being academically challenged, and are in programs that strengthen leadership skills. 

   Some students that volunteered their time are even tutors on their own time. For example Lianna Villerreal is a junior that works at Mathnasium and is one of the tutors helping out others. 

   “Since all the learning centers are closed, we’ve had to move to online tutoring. I was already familiar with virtual tutoring, so I thought I thought I would do it,” Villerreal said. “I also needed some volunteer hours for NHS and not many volunteer opportunities are available due to COVID-19,”

​   All of the tutors and mentors that are volunteering, receive community service hours for every hour they host a Zoom meeting. If a student is interested to receive extra help they can contact Mrs. Henry at thenry@scuc.txed.net, Colonel Bass at ebass@scuc.txed.net, Mrs.Mumme at kmumme@scuc.txed.net, and Coach Tollison at btollison@scuc.txed.net. 

~Connie Wiggins- Assistant Editor-in-Chief