• By Michelle Villegas, High School Junior • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 •

Since I became a tutor

Since I became a tutor

My days became better

My kids give me a hug every time I walk in the classroom

My kids give me a hug every time I leave the classroom

…

Since I became a tutor

I got three new little friends*

María

Jordan

Alex

…

Since I became a tutor

I know what it is to have recess taken away

“Don’t let her take all the letters away guys.”

“Be quiet I wanna have recess today.”

…

Since I became a tutor

I have got to test out different learning types

Jorden needs to write out what he’s thinking on the side of the text to understand

María needs someone to listen to her read and stay on the right line

Alex needs someone to read to him and stay focused

…

Since I became a tutor

I have learned to read fourth graders handwriting

María’s handwriting is the best (but don’t tell the other two that)

…

Since I became a tutor

I have had silly, but important conversations with my little friends

María loves cheerleading and does it in a club

Jorden loves five nights at Freddy’s and counted down with me the days until the new movie of it came out

Alex loves anything Marvel, his mouse for his computer is Iron Man

…

Since I became a tutor

I realized that even if I’m having a bad day, I can’t bring that into my kids’ class

Smile, breathe, focus

Make sure none of the kids have anything missing

Help them with what they’re doing

Ask them about their day and engage in conversation with them

Never let your smile drop

…

Since I became a tutor

I have had three new names to add to my prayers

I pray for María’s cheerleading competition tomorrow

I pray for Alex’s home

I pray for Jordan to turn in all his assignments

…

Since I became a tutor

My world opened up through a fourth grader’s eyes

Instead of stressing about my Algebra test

I stress about how much time we’ll have for recess

…

Since I became a tutor

My three little friends have taught me something

Stop stressing like an adult

And just get through the day like a person

Because at the end of the day, that’s all I am

…

Since I became a tutor

I know what it is to feel proud

María got a 100 on her Sirius assignment

Alex has no missing assignments

Jorden started answering questions in class

…

Since I became a tutor

My days became better

My kids give me a hug every time I walk in the classroom

My kids give me a hug every time I leave the classroom

…

Since I became a tutor

My world got brighter

…

* Tutee names changed for privacy

Michelle Villegas, wrote this poem last year and is now a high school junior in Odessa, Texas. As a tutor in the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership program, her poem received third place in IDRA’s reflection contest.

Learn More about the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership

The IDRA Valued Youth Partnership is a research-based, internationally-recognized dropout prevention and student leadership program that has kept 98% of its tutors in school.

Website: See how the program operates, its research base and how to bring it to your school.

Factsheet: See how VYP transforms student socio-emotional learning and relationships with school. The IDRA Valued Youth Partnership directly addresses socio-emotional factors that are essential to reconnecting and re-engaging with students.

Winning Essays: See the full winning reflection entries.

[© 2024, IDRA. This article appeared in the September edition of the IDRA Newsletter. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

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