Hometown: Chicago, IL

Major: Political Science

I work at Sibley Elementary with Ms. Mehrkens’ 5th Grade Class.  The teachers at Sibley are truly amazing!  I have a great relationship with Ms. Mehrkens.  She helps me plan, gives me suggestions of good activities and helpful strategies, and is always open and available to my questions and concerns.  The more I work with her, the more responsibility she has given me.  I have worked with other teachers at Sibley and they are equally awesome.  They are all truly excited to have the help and work hard to make sure the experience is beneficial for both Carleton and Sibley students.

I love the students I work with and tutoring them has quickly become the highlight of my week.  I feel like I know each child in Ms. Mehrkens’ class.  I’ve learned their academic strengths and weaknesses.  I’ve learned their career aspirations and their favorite cartoon characters.  We’ve managed to find a balance between authority figure and friend that I think makes them comfortable (and hopefully excited!) with having me in the classroom every day.  Every day I am surprised by what they are willing to share with me and how well they accept my help.

Working with kids is simultaneously the most challenging and rewarding experience there is and I have learned so much from my time at Sibley.  These kids I work with inspire me every day.  I am constantly surprised with how much I have been affected by my tutoring experience.  They give me hope for the next generation and encourage me to continue to learn how to fight for a better world for them.  The keep it real and force me to keep it real, too.  I never cease to be amazed at how simply they see things and how it can make me look differently at a world I had come to see as only complex.  I hope the kids I tutor have learned as much from me as I have from them. Plus, it’s always good to review your times tables!