Tutee Testimonials
HCC student Valarie Bush recently shared how tutoring increased her confidence as a student. Hear Her Testmonial
"My name is Valarie Bush and I have been tutored in MAT 060, 070, and 080 and without that tutoring I would not be where I am today and that is in pre-calculus. Yeah! When I entered this school I had an 8th grade math level, so I had to develop some confidence. Through one teacher’s advice I learned that my brain is my “mini universe” and with a little help from a tutor I can reach my goals, get through this class, and do everything I am challenged with. Learning is a process; it takes time and sometimes I get help from three different people to have things explained in my learning style. I won’t stop until I get the answer explained the way I need. Most students are here for a reason they want to succeed in life. My tutor is the person that made that difference for me, to give me that little extra push to succeed. I also had a tutor that really impacted my confidence. I went in to get help in factoring and I was really frustrated. She told me that I had to know something because I had gotten this far. She built my confidence by going back to what I did know. It was just what I needed to build my confidence. I realized that if my brain was a “mini universe” and there was something in the way -- it was me. I was blocking myself from learning. So, if I would just settle myself down long enough to take that teachers advice and actually apply what I already knew and what I had already accomplished I would get somewhere. But it also takes a patient tutor to help me get through those frustrating times. So, it takes patience to sit and get through it. However, I advanced and learned and I am a testimonial to that. I am a legend in my family. No one has gone above this level of math in my family. No one has an education beyond high school and to be where I am at now is pretty amazing. Now I have 3 others in my family behind me my two daughters are here and my granddaughter is here. What you do others are watching and they will follow. Now they are following in my footsteps. So if you are a good student and you gain confidence it will transpire into other things in that student’s life-- not just the academics. It will go all the way down. I will never forget to think of my brain as a tiny universe and it can learn. I don’t know where I would be without my tutor."
Elaine Barnes, Director of Student Success Services is pictured with Tutee Judy Reeves.
After losing her job at Square D of more than 34 years, Judy Reeves enrolled as a pulp and paper technology student at Haywood Community College. She chose the program because she wanted to get employment with Blue Ridge Paper Mill, located near her home. “Working with my tutor and getting one-on-one tutoring in the Teaching and Learning Center has helped me build my confidence.” says TLC tutee Judy Reeves. “I was very intimidated by getting back into the routine of studying after so many years, but asking questions and talking to other people in my classroom has helped me gain the support I need.” When asked what Judy would recommend to other students returning after a lengthy hiatus from school, she had this to say, “The first semester is hard, but you can make it; don’t quit! Transitioning to a new role as a student is difficult, but there is a great deal of support through the Teaching and Learning Center’s tutors, labs, and workshops.” After finishing her first year in the program, Judy has just recently interviewed and earned her dream job at Blue Ridge Paper making more money than she made in 34 years working for Square D, with the promise to finish her degree at night. “If it wasn’t for HCC, the pulp and paper program, and tutoring I would not be where I am today.”
Susan Downs is pictured presenting as a Tutee Panalist at a recent Tutor Training.
"My name is Susan Downs and I am very grateful to the Teaching and Learning Center because without them I would never would have finished school. I decided to go back to HCC to get my early childhood degree after 22 years of working in the field as a child care worker. I then transferred to Western Carolina University to earn my Birth through Kindergarten degree. It had been 30 years since I had taken a math class and math was my greatest challenge. I am not afraid to ask for help and signed up for tutoring through the TLC. Some of the best advice I can offer to students is: do not be afraid to ask for help. Also, I highly recommend the TLC to night students. A lot of night students do not know that these programs are available. Other advice is to have a plan and stick to it. Through good time management skills and self-discipline I was successful. I knew myself well enough to know I had to put in a lot of time studying for my classes and not all students have to do that. But if you know your learning style, life habits, and your weaknesses you know what you need to do to be successful. Through my experiences in the TLC, I had wonderful, caring, supportive, encouraging tutors. I learned a lot and really enjoyed learning."