By UNH Today
For Mina Elias ’14, the best part of being a tutor is the gratitude expressed by a student he worked with after he or she successfully completes a difficult test or earns a good grade in a challenging course.
“The students are always grateful to me for helping them get through a semester of a tough course,” he said. “Many friends and memories were made during my time as a tutor. That is something that makes this job rewarding.”
Last week, the students who worked with Elias and the more than 50 professionals, graduate students and undergraduates who serve as tutors in the Center for Learning Resources (CLR) had the chance to say “thank you” as part of National Tutor Appreciation Week.
The CLR held several events and encouraged students, faculty and staff to show their appreciation for the dedication of the tutors. Rob Harvey ‘11, a tutor who is pursuing a master’s degree in education, created a video, “How Sweet It Is to Be Tutored by You.”
The CLR supports a peer tutoring program in 22 subjects for undergraduate and graduate students. Students can also seek tutoring in the writing lab, math/science/business lab and computer lab. Last year, the CLR supported more than 13,000 student visits. More than two-thirds of the students who took advantage of tutoring received A’s or B’s in their courses.
Elias, a double major in chemical engineering and chemistry, said his strategy is to help students find study techniques and learning strategies that work for them. “I may prefer to learn a certain way, but I encourage students to develop a style of learning that works for them.”
Another tutor, Michael Smircich ’13, said the biggest key to success in the classroom and on a test is preparation. “I always tell students to start reviewing two weeks before every test, so that the night before they don’t need to cram.”
He emphasized that the CLR is not just for students who may be struggling with a subject. Tutoring is also beneficial to reinforce key topics. “You can never have too much help,” said Smircich.
