Molding The Minds Of Millions

Trying to find the right way to give back to CB? Interested in earning some service hours in the process? The Talon delves into the counseling center’s peer tutoring program.

The 2015-16 Christian Brothers High School academic year is off to a roaring start as the fall semester enters its fourth week of progress. And once again, the high academic demands of seven classes have already begun to challenge students of all grades and course levels.

Difficult classes and heavy loads of homework on a nightly basis can seem overwhelming, and many students have already begun to wonder: “how will I be able to manage it?”

The CB counseling center offers the perfect solution to such common problems: the student peer tutoring program.

“The peer tutoring program is a great way for students who need extra help in understanding a particular subject to come in and learn from a fellow student who is advanced in that area” says peer tutoring coordinator Ms. Blaire Moskat.

Students who sign up to be peer tutors give back to the school and also earn CB approved service hours in the process.

Ms. Moskat says signing up is simple and could be the way for you to give your time and talent back to the school.

“It’s a very easy process, students can just come into the counseling center and pick up a peer tutoring sign up sheet, and then sign up with their name, what subjects they feel comfortable tutoring, what levels, and then what times they are available,” describes the Class of 2018 counselor.

Tutoring is a two sided program that benefits tutor and learner equally.

“It’s a win-win situation,” says Ms. Moskat, “students who are tutoring are obviously helping another peer, and they can acquire service hours for that at the same time.”

Another plus of the counseling center’s program is that it is a completely free way for high schoolers to receive one-on-one, individual help compared to the often expensive prices of hiring a professional tutor.

Tutors and their students meet on a regular basis, depending on the need for frequent sessions and the amount of time that each can find in their schedule to convene.

Emily Taylor (’16) has amassed about 20 hours over the past year from volunteering her time in the program.

“I did it for 45 minutes, twice a week last year,” Emily says when describing the flexibility of scheduling tutor sessions.

This year, there is a large need for tutors in the area of foreign language, particularly Spanish.

Students like Emily have given their time in foreign language help, and also learned the languages better in the process.

“Tutoring students in Spanish actually helps me with my Spanish because I get more practice and I learn better if I teach it to someone else, plus I get service hours,” the senior adds with a smile.

Beyond talking to their foreign language teachers, students may need extra help in the language, so the counseling center encourages someone who wants to be a tutor and is able in a foreign language to help someone else understand the language better.

For anyone who is either looking for a way to help out a fellow CB student or aiming to log some quality service hours in the process of doing a good need, peer tutoring may be your way to become involved in the vibrant CB community.