In the 9th grade, I had the opportunity to tutor a third grader named Nina in the Koreh LA program. She was nearly half my height, but we shared the same friendly smile and eagerness to learn. From the first day we met, I knew that we were going to have a fantastic time, but I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have on the both of us. As we read books, we came across words I assumed she was unfamiliar with. She wouldn't show her lack of understanding, but I would keep her from turning to the next page to ask her if she knew what the higher level words meant. She would become shy, sometimes avoid answering the question, and play with her black curly hair. As I explained to her the definition, I tried to make not knowing words a
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Seeing how she was no longer embarrassed to ask for clarification exposed to me my impact. This reminds me of this quote in our reading, “The most familiar models of who we are - father and daughter, doctor and patient, “helper” and “helped” - often turn out to be major obstacles to the expression of our caring instincts; they limit the full measure of what we have to offer one another. But when we break through and meet in spirit behind our separateness, we experience profound moments of companionship” (p. 20). I believe that Nina and I broke through our separateness as well as our designated roles, of teacher and student, and that it caused us to not only to become friends but that it allowed her to break free from her insecurity. As time went on I continued to notice her growing newfound self-confidence in herself as well as an improved ability to …show more content…
At the programs end of the year party, Nina shouted, with a bright smile, "This is the best day ever!", not because the program was over but in celebration of the time we spent together. I was filled with so much joy that day as I gave her the book I bought for her, which I signed with a long heartfelt message. For me, “The reward, the real grace, of conscious service, then, is the opportunity not only to help relieve suffering but to grow in wisdom, experience greater unity, and have a good time while we’re doing it” (p. 16). It was immensely fulfilling to have a positive impact on her life and I eagerly continued to participate in the program each coming year. At times I would feel a little disconnected with the world but the Koreah LA sessions would help me reconnect with it. It was a time I could just be myself and try my best to help without the judgement of a grade and the pressure to impress or conform. Through helping children improve their reading and comprehension skills, I feel I’ve become smarter and a better prospective teacher. This connects with one man’s anecdote in the book, “You see, I had had an immense respect for that generation of Jews which had come to Palestine in the twenties and thirties, who went back to the land not simply to rebuild the land but to be rebuilt by the land, by the work itself” (p. 39). Similar to the Jews in the twenties and thirties, I am helping build a child’s literacy foundation and
Seeing how she was no longer embarrassed to ask for clarification exposed to me my impact. This reminds me of this quote in our reading, “The most familiar models of who we are - father and daughter, doctor and patient, “helper” and “helped” - often turn out to be major obstacles to the expression of our caring instincts; they limit the full measure of what we have to offer one another. But when we break through and meet in spirit behind our separateness, we experience profound moments of companionship” (p. 20). I believe that Nina and I broke through our separateness as well as our designated roles, of teacher and student, and that it caused us to not only to become friends but that it allowed her to break free from her insecurity. As time went on I continued to notice her growing newfound self-confidence in herself as well as an improved ability to …show more content…
At the programs end of the year party, Nina shouted, with a bright smile, "This is the best day ever!", not because the program was over but in celebration of the time we spent together. I was filled with so much joy that day as I gave her the book I bought for her, which I signed with a long heartfelt message. For me, “The reward, the real grace, of conscious service, then, is the opportunity not only to help relieve suffering but to grow in wisdom, experience greater unity, and have a good time while we’re doing it” (p. 16). It was immensely fulfilling to have a positive impact on her life and I eagerly continued to participate in the program each coming year. At times I would feel a little disconnected with the world but the Koreah LA sessions would help me reconnect with it. It was a time I could just be myself and try my best to help without the judgement of a grade and the pressure to impress or conform. Through helping children improve their reading and comprehension skills, I feel I’ve become smarter and a better prospective teacher. This connects with one man’s anecdote in the book, “You see, I had had an immense respect for that generation of Jews which had come to Palestine in the twenties and thirties, who went back to the land not simply to rebuild the land but to be rebuilt by the land, by the work itself” (p. 39). Similar to the Jews in the twenties and thirties, I am helping build a child’s literacy foundation and