I attended the Math and Statistics Learning Center (MSLC) to obtain assistance in a calculus project as well as study for an upcoming midterm. Overall the visit was very beneficial. After asking several questions and working through problems with the tutors, I was able to finish my project and prepare for the midterm. As a result, I received good grades on both. Many might assume that there is a stigma surrounding seeking tutoring in a subject, however, in my opinion I believe that doing so proves one’s determination to fully learn and comprehend the material. Here at Ohio State, I do not believe this stigma is present since many students often seek assistance in a variety of subjects. Several of my classmates have utilized the Math and Statistics Learning Center as well, and it was actually a fellow STEM Scholar who introduced me to this specific service. People often desire to act like they do not need help or pretend they are good at everything. In reality, we all need help sometimes, and by receiving help we are able to learn and grow. Thus, I plan on attending the Math and Statistics Learning Center again in the future to obtain help on challenging concepts or even to simply complete math homework in a positive and helpful environment.
In the past, I have attended tutoring sessions for help in subjects like Algebra, Physics, and English. In high school, National Honors Society students offered tutoring every morning before school, and teachers often were willing to stay after school to assist students. During my sophomore year, I often attending National Honors Society tutoring sessions to have tutors look over my English papers and give me tips on how to improve them. Since they had taken the same class, they were able to provide a variety of useful tips and information. Last year while taking AP Physics, I spent many hours after school receiving help from my teacher and I also acted as a National Honors Society tutor. Thus, I have been in both positions, the tutor and the student. As a tutor, I would often get seemingly strange questions from students, however, I never looked down on them for asking for help. Rather, I applauded them for taking the time to wake up even earlier than they already had to in order to seek the help that they needed. In the future, I hope to resume tutoring because I believe these types of services play very important roles in a student’s education. With the help of tutors in the past, I was able to learn material more efficiently and effectively. Often, getting a peers perspective on a subject is more beneficial than attempting to ask the teacher questions. Upperclassmen have been in our shoes more recently than teachers or professors have, so they often remember more vividly what kinds of tips or tricks helped them when they were stuck or confused. Overall, they are able to empathize with students best, since they themselves are also students and understand in-depth the kinds of pressure and stress students feel every day.
