Everyday at school you go from class to class, always feeling like you’re way behind everybody else. In geometry class you get caught up by all the different rules – which one are you supposed to use to find the circumference of this circle? What formula is everyone else using to get the cotangent of that angle?? You raise your hand and wait for the teacher to finish helping another student. The bell rings before she reaches you. Frustrated, you throw your math book into your backpack and head off to English.

In English class, everyone’s talking about the book you just read, The Lord of the Flies. The teacher is leading a discussion about the main themes and symbolism. You’re all ready to participate until you hear the questions. What DO Piggy’s glasses symbolize? Which Biblical figure is Simon supposed to represent? Did you miss something? Because you don’t remember any scene involving killing a pig…The bell rings and you’re left to wonder whether or not you even read the same book as everyone else.

Does this sound like YOUR day? With teachers overburdened and schools filled to capacity, it can be hard to get any individualized attention. It seems all too easy to fall through the cracks. That’s when a lot of teens and their parents decide to get outside help. Tutors can be other students, teachers, retired teachers, professionals, etc. The important thing is that you and your parents approve of him/her and that you can get the help you need.

Alternatively, if you’re already well-versed in things like algebra, biology, chemistry, writing skills, etc., you might be ready for a tutor’s role. It’s easy to volunteer to tutor at your school or in the community, or you can even set up your own “business” and charge a small fee for your services. Tutoring younger kids or providing homework help is a good option. And tutoring is not only rewarding because you’re helping someone else, it’s also a great way to sharpen your own skills. After all, you’ve got to really know your stuff if you’re going to teach it to someone else!!

If you are interested in being tutored or becoming a tutor read on under “Defined” and “How To” for tips on making the most of your tutor or developing into a more effective tutor.