Before I explain why I quit tutoring, I should probably explain why I started.
One day at my old job, I was at the internet computer kiosk checking email and web surfing. One of the slightly-older-than-me ladies there saw me and started talking to me about this tutoring program that she’s in. It sounded really interesting, easy, and worthwhile. But what sealed the deal was that it was about a quarter mile away from my old apartment. I told her I’d do it.
But in reality…
I tried it out and I loved it. The teacher left assignments in a folder and it told you exactly what to do. I didn’t have to come up with assignments on my own (which would’ve sucked for the kid).
My assignments were going over reading comprehension with my kid. He had to read 2 short stories about a person from the past and answer 4 questions about each story. He struggled a bit because he wasn’t really focused on the story as a whole. He focused more on the word he was reading.
Sidebar: I noticed that he’s really good at math. One day he finished all of his stuff really early and he didn’t want to do his backup work (I think crossword puzzles or word search or something lame). I got the math flash cards and we went through them. He didn’t even hesitate on multiplication and division where other kids in his class were struggling with the same flash cards. Schools should have kids focus more on their strengths instead of trying to improve their weaknesses. If he’s a math wiz, he could be taking 6th grade math now instead of being bored while the teacher explains things he already understands to the kids who don’t get it. But I digress…
He always seemed glad that I was there. The kid even got me a Christmas present. It was a good time and I felt like I was making a difference.
The Dagger
One day, I got there about 10 minutes late. The boss lady told me that all the kids were taken and there aren’t any left to tutor. She said I could go home. 
I thought I was making positive change on the world or at least in this kid’s life. But I took her sending me home to mean I was easily replaceable. I got over it as soon as I got outside and went on with the rest of my night.
The Waterfall Effect
The next week comes around. I was getting ready to move to my new place and was packing before tutoring. I decided that I’d keep packing instead of going somewhere that I’m not needed.
The week after that, I moved into my new place and had a lot to do.
The week after that, it was around election time and tutoring was cancelled.
The week after that, a huge ice storm in the DC area caused tutoring to be cancelled.
The week after that, I just got back into town that afternoon and slept the night away.
The week after that, I had nothing else to do. But I finally made the decision that I wasn’t going back. After all that time that I didn’t go, I simply lost the passion for it and decided that it wasn’t worth the drive out there to do something that someone else could do.
I feel like all of my reasons for not going wouldn’t have stopped me from going if I hadn’t been replaced so nonchalantly. I accept some of the blame because I was late that day. However, everything happens for a reason and it seems it was my time to move on from tutoring.
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only the kid will suffer…u were doing something positive..all of the things that intervened were to test your sincerity.
Just because you were asked to go home ONE day does not mean you are easily replaceable. Yes, someone may have been able to fill your spot that day. But are they YOU? Can they help the child the same way YOU can? Maybe there weren’t as many kids in attendance. I agree that all those “distractions” that came up were ot test your sincerity, and also your passion. Just because you allowed yourself to become distracted does not mean that the passion is gone. You are merely using them as excuses just in case you are sent home again, I take it you didn’t like that feeling. The way you wrote about how you loved it tells me it is something you may want to try again. If you have to make a drive to make a difference in someone’s life…what is more important- the gas, or the change you can SEE with your own eyes? Perhaps either talk to the place you went to before, or find another one that might be closer.
That’s just my opinion.
That actually made me kinda sad for some reason. I think that you should go back and give tutoring another shot!! Just because one person made you feel disposable doesn’t really mean that you are. You could make a real difference in someone’s life by passing on the knowledge that you’ve acquired. Some of these kids really need people like you, and you’re willing to quit because of what a wretched old wench said.
Since when do you give up that easily?
I guess I wasn’t that sincere. I started tutoring because it was convenient and I felt like I was making a difference. If I had been sent home the second week of tutoring, I probably would’ve continued to go. But it happened after doing it for weeks and while other things were going on in my life.
The way that I look at life, I believe that things are placed in your life in order to point you in the right direction. Not to make things more difficult for you to see what you’d do. The universe knows you and already knows what you’ll do if situation A were to occur. Tutoring was there for a while and it was good. But after many things in my life changed, it was time for me to let go of tutoring for now and try something else.
But thanks to my dad, Sarah, and Narendra for your comments. Maybe the three of you could reach out to some kids in your area to make up for the one I gave up on.
There is so much I could say about this blog since teaching and educating teachers is my passion. The thing that impressed me the most, was even though you were relatively new to tutoring, you realized this child’s strengths and saw his potential. So many teachers ignore these individual variations, and I think it’s a shame that your affective filter went up due to how your cavalier your boss was with you; this child lost a tutor who was genuinely interested in his personal growth.
And now, a year later, you are back to teaching kids, this time on the other side of the world! Seems that interest in tutoring may have sparked a future interest in teaching…I know you have frustrating Korea days, but you have the right personality and termpermant for teaching kids. I’m sure they love you.
I had just read a book about that. It’s like schools want kids to be well-rounded or something but if you can master math, it shouldn’t matter as much if you know about Johnny Appleseed. Sadly, that’s one of the stories I had to make him read.
Back then, I never would’ve guessed I’d be in Korea teaching right now. It’s good enough for now and it’s fun way more than it’s not.