This semester, I have become involved with a really cool organization on campus called the Viterbi Academic Resource Center (VARC). In VARC, upperclassmen serve as tutors to engineers that are taking the classes that we already took. If a student has a problem with, say, physics, then they can come in, show what problem or concept they are stuck on, and then I, or whoever else is helping them, work to explain the material at hand.
There are a couple reasons why I love doing this. For one thing, explaining concepts to another student serves as a very good way for me to review and relearn the material that I need to explain to them. This is especially beneficial for me when I need to explain calculus as that is something I am using more extensively in my upper division classes, and yet also something that I could definitely brush up on. Secondly, all of the other students and staff in VARC are extremely helpful and very nice. This definitely enhances the VARC experience and makes the environment there a positive one. Lastly, I love being a tutor/mentor in general. The fact that I could potentially provide clarity to someone who is struggling through a certain idea is something that I find fascinating and very rewarding. As a matter of fact, I would not be as successful as I am today if it were not for the tutors and mentors I’ve had throughout my life, and I hope I can help someone else like they’ve helped me.
So, if you’re ever struggling with a class or a concept, sign up online for a VARC session and come on over! Or, if you’re the type of person that likes tutoring or explaining how to solve homework problems to your friends, I would definitely suggest trying to get involved with VARC: I promise, you’ll love it 😀
