By Sondreen Johnson
Trinity Times Correspondent

When Yesica Tumax signed on to be a peer tutor through Trinity Washington University’s Academic Support the senior Biochemistry major didn’t realize how rewarding it was going to be to accompany her student colleagues in their scholastic achievements.

“Helping other students flourish academically puts a smile on my face,” Tumax told Trinity Times about the students she assists with their math and science courses. “A win for students I help is a win for me as well.”

The mission of the tutor aligns with her philosophy of community building and boosts her academic confidence as she prepares for graduation.

Hundreds of Trinity students seek additional academic help in their university studies each semester and peer tutors help the school offer more scholastic support, said Kimberly LaBoone, director of Academic Services.

Though peer tutors are not professional educators or student development specialists, they are given some training before working with students to ensure they are providing beneficial support.

Trinity does have staff members who can assist students with more advanced academic assistance, but students often find peer tutors to be less threatening, according to Doug Kovel, chief executive officer of the curriculum development company Cosmic Prep, who wrote a 2021 article in Inside Higher Ed entitled “Peer Tutoring in the Pandemic.”

“Because many peer tutors are close in age to their tutees, they can often better form personal connections that transcend the tutoring relationship,” Kovel writes in the Inside Higher Ed article. “A peer tutor bridges that gap between a quasi-authority figure and a friend, who can serve as an educator and therapist of sorts.”

Peer tutors can also give students awareness of how to navigate their academic and personal obligations, including useful study and time management approaches, said Trinity freshman Didra Johnson, who sought out academic help when she became overwhelmed by her courses in the School of Nursing & Health Professions.

Johnson has utilized Trinity tutoring services on plenty of occasions, noting that one tutor in particular has helped her tremendously.  

“Onjali McEachin has been my math tutor since the beginning of the semester and there is a significant difference between my grades and me holding myself accountable to complete assignments,” she said. “I don’t think that I would have gotten it if it wasn’t for her.”

Johnson believes that utilizing peer tutoring services at Trinity took away the stigma of asking for additional help when she didn’t understand her coursework.

“If you need help go and see a tutor,” Johnson said with emphasis. “Peer tutors at Trinity may challenge you but they are also extremely helpful.”

Marie Solanche, a senior Biochemistry major at Trinity, loves seeing the assurance that builds over time with the students she tutors.

“I’m extremely happy when students who come to me begin to do their coursework with confidence,” Solanche said. “That makes me proud and makes me feel as if I’m making a difference.”

While she enjoys being a peer tutor, she doesn’t relish having difficult conversations with students who expect her to help them do their quizzes. 

“We’re here to help students understand their coursework,” Solanche stressed with a sigh. “We can assist with homework and help to prepare for an exam or quiz. However, we cannot assist students who come to us with their quizzes open on their laptop screens.”

Most colleges and universities use peer tutors to provide tutoring services, according to Hanover Research.

Peer tutors at Trinity often tell LaBoone they find the experience refreshing.

“Tutors comment that working with their peers enriches their academic experiences and helps reinforce material that they completed in previous semesters,” she said.Students seeking tutoring services can locate peer tutors at Trinity’s Sister Helen Sheehan Library or schedule tutoring sessions online by utilizing Starfish when logging into their student account.