A Journey of Hope
By Tasmia Afrin
PupilPrep is one of the most innovative and life-changing nonprofit organizations I’ve experienced, that strives to combat education inequities in the roots of our communities. With over 100 tutors and 150+ student mentees, PupilPrep is a wonderful opportunity for student-driven and free tutoring to students from grades K-8 facing financial and language barriers. As a long-standing member of PupilPrep, this organization has become a part of my dreams and ambitions to develop a brighter future for generations to come. It was a hot, sunny day in August 2020 when I joined PupilPrep; little did I know that I would find myself completely immersed and dedicated to this organization. Throughout my whole life, I have been fortunate enough to excel in my academics and enjoy learning various subjects in school because of the important individuals I surrounded myself with. With my hard work, passions, and determination to learn and become more educated in subjects ranging from biology, humanities, English to math (well, math could be a stretch…) I knew I had what it takes to give back to my peers. I am the type of student who cherishes interacting with my peers and helping them understand concepts that may not make sense at first glance. I have always believed that we can only help each other thrive and succeed when we have that ability to share our love, knowledge, and experience. So, when I heard about PupilPrep through social media, I immediately knew that this was my chance to help tutor those who need it and it would be a meaningful way to gain volunteer experience, create memories and establish a routine that sets me up for the real world.
PupilPrep has taught me that there is beauty and power in giving back to the community, especially when you can put a smile on someone’s face. Working in the past as a mentor coach gave me the strength and hope to pursue my dreams of helping others. I recall back to one of my favorite memories here at PupilPrep where one of my several mentees told me that because of my lessons and daily meetings, he is able to see the world through a brighter lens. My mentee looked up at me and told me with the purest and kindest smile that he is able to enjoy learning again because he no longer feels that he is forced to learn but because he wants to learn more and more. I would hold trivia nights, mini debates, watch TEDTalks, create Google Slides and presentations but above all always connect with my mentees in a way such that both of us come out of the meeting with a sense of peace and understanding. One time we even vented about our love for Norse mythology to astronomy all the way to marine biology. PupilPrep has allowed me to give back to students and provide them the opportunity to learn and see the beauty in this world - something that I wish I would have seen when I was younger!
