We live in a global and diverse society.
Explain how your community involvement prepares you for the future in this complex world. (1500 characters)
Exposure is the best teacher, so when I got involved with Learning Buddies Network, a tutoring program catered primarily for at-risk youth, I knew precisely what kind of child I'd be tutoring. My first reading buddy, Dylan, was a second-generation immigrant with divorced parents. Between juggling learning English, working, and sharing custody, his mom seemed to be spread too thin to support his development fully. As a result, he did not know the entire alphabet despite being in the first grade. Throughout his learning journey, I learned invaluable things about myself. As a teacher's assistant for a ninth-grade social studies class, I was frequently shocked by their poor language skills. Through tutoring Dylan, I learned to empathize. Although Dylan couldn't speak English perfectly, he was one of the hardest-working children I'd ever had the pleasure of tutoring. Instead of characterizing those with weaker English skills as lazy, I'd learned to empathize more with their diverse situations. Furthermore, I'd learned to communicate more effectively through a language barrier, as I had to regularly correspond with Dylan's mother about his progress. In future, I believe my experience with their unique situation will equip me with the tools to properly communicate with and accommodate the diverse cast of people I will meet.
