ACE News
My Two Years as an ACE Tutor
June 17, 2011
If you had asked me two years ago what I would be doing with my life now, I would have told you I would be interning as a therapist in Chicago. I wanted something hands-on where I would be able to use the skills I had developed in graduate school. However, I felt unsupported by professors and unprepared to be a counselor, so I decided to make a career change. I remember feeling uncertain about whether quitting graduate school to explore new options was a good idea, but after much research and many hours of planning, I found a program that was right for me. I now live in Austin, Texas, working passionately toward something I never would have dreamed of—partnering with ACE and AmeriCorps to tutor children in low-income schools.
After joining ACE, the uncertainty that hovered over my head soon dissipated as I met my fellow ACE tutors and staff. As the year went on, I received unconditional love from the children I tutored each time I entered their classroom. The support that I received from fellow tutors, supervisors, teachers, and staff in the school, as well as the greater Austin community, is indescribable. I have never felt so comfortable stepping out of the ordinary roles I would have locked myself into. I have had the opportunity to grow as a tutor, mentor, team member, leader, planner, and, on occasional service days, jack-of-all-trades.
My second year as an ACE tutor has allowed me to continue to expand my skills and experiences. On a professional level, I have had the opportunity to develop my literacy-tutoring skills with students from kindergarten through the second grade; to experience and observe different teaching styles; and to develop leadership skills by supporting four new ACE members to successfully tutor their children.
On a personal level, I have been able to learn from and work with fearless ACE tutors from all over the U.S.; to be supported by an amazing program staff; to network with the educational community and beyond through service projects; and to enjoy another year in Austin. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to serve. Every day is different. It can be exciting, challenging, and exhausting, but at the end of the day, it is always rewarding.
Rachel Schirmer
ACE Tutor