An Afternoon at the Math and Statistics Learning Center

Earlier today, I visited the Math and Statistics Learning Center (MSLC) to seek help on my Math 1172 homework. My first midterm is tomorrow, and since I still didn’t understand certain topics that were going to be on the exam, I figured it would be beneficial for me to go and see if the MSLC tutors could help me understand the material. To some students, seeking out help like this is a normal occurrence. However, to me, it was a new experience. In high school, I excelled in all my classes and typically, I was the one helping other students, and not vice versa. That being said, walking into the tutoring center didn’t exactly make me feel embarrassed, but it definitely was out of my comfort zone.

Despite this sense of uneasiness, I actually managed to take a lot away from my tutoring session. Not only did the tutors not make me feel silly for asking questions, but they also helped me understand each concept thoroughly so that I could apply my knowledge in later questions. Another aspect of the MSLC that I really enjoyed is that the tutors did not solve the problems for me, but rather they led me in the right direction and let me do my own critical thinking. Not only was it more satisfying when I finally arrived at the correct answer, but it also helped me understand the process of each question, making me feel confident for the midterm tomorrow. For example, in class and recitation, I simply tried to memorize the formulas and then plug the numbers into them. At the MSLC, on the other hand, the tutors really helped me understand how each formula was derived, so if I forgot the exact formula for a certain problem, I could derive the formula on my own using critical thinking (a skill that the MSLC also helped me develop today).

As the semester continues, I definitely plan on using the MSLC more. The one thing that I really liked about it was that it was a such an efficient concept: rather than it being a traditional tutoring center, it was more like a library/study area with help available whenever you needed it. There also seemed to be no stigma about the MSLC, and I was not ashamed to be there at all. Obviously, college is exponentially harder than high school, and it is normal to struggle with tough classes (like my Math 1172 class). That being said, the MSLC was a very positive environment about learning and growth, rather than helping the “dumb” kids (such as how tutoring may have been stereotyped in high school).

In the future, I could certainly see myself working as a tutor in the MSLC or another learning center similar to it (such as the Dennis Learning Center or Younkin Success Center). In high school, I really enjoyed helping my peers with problems, and it also helped me solidify my knowledge further by teaching them. Obviously, I would have to understand a class well enough to be a tutor, but that will come with time.

With all that being said, my time at the MSLC was a very beneficial experience and I would highly recommend everyone stop in and check it out!

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