When National English Honor Society was started three years ago, Sabrina Harlan, the organization’s advisor, was looking for ways to serve the Northwood community while utilizing the English skills of her members.
“We started the peer tutoring center as a writing center three years ago, and we decided to expand it to offer services for not just writing, but for reading, and then all the subjects,” Harlan said. “Anybody that needs help in any subject can some.”
Harlan says that participation was low at first, but as they expanded to other subjects, and took on new leadership, like coordinator Morgan Roberts, the center gained traction.
“This year we’ve had a lot more participation than past years,” Harlan said, “We’ve had parents, counselors and teachers that have referred (students). We want people to come on in, and sign up.”
Though the center is now widely attended, it initially struggled, which Roberts attributes to students’ reluctance to get help.
“It can be embarrassing for some people, because they think it makes them seem weak if they come for help,” Roberts said. “But, we’re just like them; we need help with things too, we’re just here to tutor in classes we’ve already passed. So what does anyone have to lose from coming?”
Sam Shi, a NEHS member who tutors at the center, says there are always enough helping hands.
“It’s required for members to participate twice a month, so there are always enough members there,” Shi said
The center has an online sign-up that allows students to specify the subjects they need help in, so tutors can be matched based on their needs.
“People who want to be tutored come in and sign up online beforehand,” Shi said. “They’ll indicate what subject they want to be tutored in so that we can have someone there for them… We try to make sure everyone has the right kind of help.”
Roberts, the coordinator, says it’s gratifying to see students begin to understand the subjects they once struggled with.
“Ms. Harlan says that they have higher grades than everyone else when they come, like the kids who come from her English class,” Roberts said, “Sometimes they don’t know how to do even one problem on it, but afterward, I think they understand.”
Eventually, the Honor Society hopes to expand its reach to the middle schools, providing tutoring services to students at Horton.
“We’re going to coordinate with Horton Middle School, and go over there to tutor the young kids, so when they get to Northwood, they’ll know we have this and they’ll come get help,” Harlan said.
Sam Shi points out that one of the many advantages of the peer tutoring center is the relationship between the person being tutored and the tutor.
“I appreciate how a lot of times, students refer themselves… The tutors are students also, so it allows them to get help from their peers so they don’t feel below them. The power dynamic is pretty equivalent because we’re all students. It’s not like some teacher you pay to get help. It’s not like there’s a superior and an inferior party.”
Ole Johnson, a student that has utilized the center, says that it has helped him not only with academics, but also with organizational skills.
-Meerea Butalia and Harper Johnson
