Denied

I have volunteered at the Downtown YMCA to be a mentor to a local high school student. This is a four-year commitment in which we're supposed to build a relationship. I'm to guide him along the road to college and to expose him to new things. A few months ago I was assigned to Tyrone, a freshman. He's a good kid. We usually go out for dinner or just hang out. I've also brought him to the state park and to a book signing by Phil Jackson. I had hoped that the program would be geared more towards the academics but it turns out that this is more like a Big Brothers program.

A few weeks ago I tricked Tyrone. I told him that I would be going to the library to study and asked if he'd like to come too. I made it clear that I would be studying for my exam but that this would be a good chance for him to do his homework away from his little sisters. Even though I talked it up I was surprised that he agreed to go with me. I say that I "tricked" him because in reality I wanted to see how well he's being taught. He's in an algebra class now and I wanted to know if he's learning anything. So, after a little bit of studying I asked him how his work was going and before you know it, I was on his side of the table showing him how to factor numbers. We spent an hour going over factoring, and I think he enjoyed it. I know I did. Man, I miss tutoring. He mentioned a couple of times how much easier his homework seemed after I went over it with him and that he'd be able to use what I had showed him.

On the drive back to his house I mentioned that I go to the library all the time, and if he'd like to come with me once a week, I'd have no problem with it. He could bring his homework from the past week and I could make sure that he understood it. I could show him more tricks like those I had already taught him. And if not on a regular basis, he could call me if he ever needs something explained to him. But, no, he turned me down. He said that he could call his sister's boyfriend - who is in college, he pointed out. Tyrone, you're killing me. In an hour I just explained something that your teacher hasn't in the past 3 weeks. I have charged $20/hour for my tutoring. I have a master's degree in mathematics. You're turning me down? Granted on credentials alone, I probably would too - but we just had a successful hour-long session. My ego is a little bloated, I know. I'm mostly dissappointed that I lost the opportunity to work with a student again.

I was reminded of this after last night. Tyrone and I went out for dinner. I was asking about classes and after trying to describe what's going on in algebra, we ended up working with numbers on the placemat. I taught him how to solve a system of equations. Sadly, I had fun doing it. I seriously have to find a tutoring program to work with.