Why I love tutoring

Why I Love Tutoring: Reflections on a Rewarding Journey

Yesterday, I was asked lots of interesting questions about my work, which reminded me why I love what I do.

“Isn't it frustrating working with students when they struggle to understand?”

Not at all. Working one-on-one makes it much easier to keep students in the sweet spot between engagement and overwhelming challenge. After doing this for so many years, I remember the points that stumped former students and use those insights to guide new students through challenges more efficiently. That said, every student gets puzzled in slightly different ways, which keeps teaching the same concepts every year from becoming dull. When my existing method of explanation fails, it forces me to be more creative.

“Isn't it difficult when students ask you questions you don't know the answer to?”

It takes time to get used to, but I’ve realized that such questions often signal anxiety about the extent of what’s expected in the exam. Nowadays, I tend to say, “You don’t need to know that for the exam, which is why I don’t know, but give me a second to think, and I’ll suggest an answer.” This models how they should respond to a tricky exam question—try not to get flustered, take a beat, and let the answer present itself.

“Do you like your job?”

I really, really do. It takes a lot of practice to always be able to think of questions that guide a student closer to their goal. Chemistry is a language, and by using the keywords I’m helping them to learn, I can gauge their understanding and create the mental conditions for them to have the insights that unravel whichever mystery we’re contemplating. As they say, 'Tell me and I forget, show me and I learn.'