As a sophomore in high school, I had begun an extremely rigorous AP curriculum. In March of that school year, my brother’s godfather, and an extremely close family friend I had grown to see as my uncle was fatally shot in North Charleston, South Carolina. I was in a very bad place during this time and my understanding of the material in many of my classes began to falter resulting in lower grades. I sought out a tutoring program run by my school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and was able to work my way back up to a place of higher academic standing. This event truly rocked my academic life at the time, but continues to be a daily struggle. Simply having to accept that a loved one has gone from your life is never an easy process, but having to accept that someone could still be but was taken on purpose by another person begins to change the healing process.
I was able to confide in extremely close academic and personal mentor who appointed me towards a tutoring program that truly changed my life. They were able to help catch up on missed work as well as raise falling grades. They fostered my love for the sciences which allowed me insight into a future college and career path which has continued to help me in terms of important college decisions and appropriate preparation for the intensity that comes with the pre-medicine major.
My mom works three jobs in order to support my family. She is the reason I worked to seek a tutoring program that fostered my love for education. If it was not for generous organizations such as this who are willing to take in struggling students and teach them a love of learning while providing them with the ability to see further into their futures because of the incredible help provided in the forms of tutoring and mentorship, I would not be in the position academically and personally that I am today.
