Struggling with school work? Tutoring can help

We’re living in strange times and with the inability to be on campus, remote learning can be tricky. The good news is that every Georgian student has free access to tutoring services that can really help, whether you’re in class or online. Just ask Tawni Smith, a Practical Nursing student who turned to tutoring when she struggled with some of her classes.

Why did you decide to get a tutor? I had a head injury at work a couple of years ago. Because of this injury it was hard for me to concentrate and I had headaches. It was really hard for me to understand most of my school assignments and learning materials. I wasn’t doing well in some of the nursing courses so I decided to get the tutors.

What was the experience like? It was amazing. Whatever I didn’t understand I would take it to the tutor at our meeting time and he/she would explain to me by using a video, a life situation, or they would draw it for me to understand.

The tutors understood the type of learner I am. So, they used the whiteboard, videos, and or scenarios just so that I could grasp it more. They also help me to be prepared for quizzes, tests, and exams. If I have any questions about something I don’t understand I can email them, which also helps me a lot.

What was the most helpful thing you learned? Don’t be afraid of saying that you are struggling and you need help.

How did tutoring help you overall? I have more confidence in my school work, obtained good grades, and I am completing this program.

What advice would you give someone who is struggling with a course? If you are struggling in a course, don’t wait until it’s too late to seek help. You should go and make an appointment at Academic Success to see the tutoring advisor.

They offer one-on-one and group sessions that will help. For example, in one of my courses, it was challenging for most students, so they decided to do a group drop-in for that particular course.

Screen shot of four people in an online meeting — Student tutors that help students through Student Services. L to R (top): Chipo Mwanza and Thomas Monsma. L to R (bottom): Avery Thompson and Priyankkumar Patel

The tutors also prep you for your tests and exams. The good part is that the tutors are from your program so they have a lot of knowledge in that area. So, when you don’t understand something they will explain it to you in a simpler way.

For more information about how to connect with a tutor, visit Student Services.