Charvi Goyal is a high school student from Dallas, Texas, who helps out other classmates by tutoring them between classes. A tutor is someone who teaches one person or a very small group of students.
When Goyal's high school moved online last spring because of COVID-19, she decided to also take her teaching online. The 17-year-old junior and three of her fellow students created TutorScope, a program that offers free tutoring services to other children, including younger ones. It started with a small number of tutors who helped young people in their city. But it has grown into a group of 22 tutors from Texas, Arizona and Ohio. They have helped more than 300 students, some from as far away as South Korea.
TutorScope aims to give the one-on-one help that teachers have traditionally given while walking around their classrooms. But now, many teachers cannot provide that one-on-one support because they lack time or have issues with technology.
Sarah Newman said her children, 7-year-old twins, have had helpful TutorScope experiences. The service has freed up her and her 17-year-old son in pay attention to their work. "With these tutors, I realize they have time," she said, "I think they are very patient with these younger kids, which I do not even have as a mother. I have patience in other things, but I don't have patience for teaching.
What makes the TutorScope effort special is the connection between the teenage volunteers and the other students they are helping. Although the pandemic has forced many students to look inward, Goyal said that working with others on a big project has permitted her to look outward. "My confidence level has increased," Goyal said. She added that she has made friends with other students from her school. She said one of the best things about running a growing non-profit is that it does help with the boredom of being stuck at home.
