Elementary Students (Grades K-4)

Tuesday, June 28 @ 3:00 PM CST

GoPeer is excited to invite you to a free webinar introducing your student to coding. During this webinar, we will go over what coding is, examples of some coding languages, such as JavaScript, an interactive scratch demo, and what coding can be used for. We hope you all enjoy this webinar and learn something new!

Middle School (Grades 5–8)

Wednesday, June 29 @ 12:00 PM CST

Join us as we explore the world of coding and how it plays into gaming with our own GoPeer tutor, Michael R. He knows programming languages such as Python and C#! Michael understands the responsibility of being a Summer Group Webinar tutor and will bring his programming passion to it! After all, students learn best when everyone enjoys the lesson! Join us for this FREE webinar and learn from the future in gaming.

High School Students

Thursday, June 30th @ 12:00 PM CST

Join us as we explore the world of coding and how it plays into gaming with our own GoPeer tutor, Michael R. He knows programming languages such as Python and C#! Michael understands the responsibility of being a Summer Group Webinar tutor and will bring his programming passion to it! After all, students learn best when everyone enjoys the lesson! Join us for this FREE webinar and learn from the future in gaming.

What is GoPeer?

GoPeer.org is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for personalized lessons.

GoPeer’s mission is to improve the quality and lower the cost of education by providing high-quality tutoring at 1/3 the national average cost of professional tutoring. This is why all tutoring sessions on GoPeer are always $20/hr when you become a member. Plus, 100% of the $20/hr goes directly to the tutors.

Want to get in touch? Send us a message via our website at GoPeer.org.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news!

Free Intro to Coding Class with GoPeer was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Summer is finally here! It’s time for students to kick back and relax before preparing for the next school year. For many students, summer break means unwinding and focusing on having fun! Unfortunately, taking time away from learning can have a significant negative impact on students and cause summer learning loss, also known as the summer slide.

What is summer slide?

“Summer slide” is the tendency for students, especially students from low-income families, to lose some of the knowledge and achievement gains they made the previous school year. Summer slide occurs due to a lack of exposure to educational activities during vacation, however, it doesn’t affect every student equally. Students from low-come families are more likely to experience summer slide due to limited resources and accessibility to summer enrichment programs.

Studies show that kids lose a significant amount of knowledge in reading and math over summer break, and a more recent study showed that children in 3rd to 5th grade, on average, lost about 20 percent of what they learned in reading and 27 percent of what they learned in math during summer break.

How to prevent learning loss during summer break

Summer break is a time for kids to have fun, but it’s also a chance for them to fall behind. While you’re busy planning fun family activities, don’t forget about the importance of keeping kids engaged in educational opportunities.

Preventing learning loss can seem overwhelming, but luckily, students can maintain reading comprehension and math skills with just a few minutes of learning during their day. There are several ways you can keep kids engaged in educational activities during the summer:

Let kids choose

One of the challenges of keeping kids engaged during the summer is getting them excited about learning. Kids won’t gain much from their summer reading if they’re not enjoying what they’re reading! A great way to get them excited about reading is by allowing them to pick what they want to read. Ask your child’s teacher or a librarian for recommendations if you’re unsure what reading level your child is on.

Set goals

Sit down with your child and set some summer learning goals together! Learning to identify, define, and set academic goals is a great skill for any student to develop. Depending on your child’s age and grade level, you may want to aim for reading a book a week or setting aside a certain amount of time each day for reading. Make sure you create realistic goals and use a reward system to keep your child motivated throughout the summer.

Make learning fun

After all, it is summer, so try to keep activities fun! Are you heading to the beach? Pack some books with you or try to have a seashell counting contest. Visiting historical sites or going on educational excursions to local museums, zoos, or aquariums are also great ways to stimulate the brain and promote learning. Games and puzzles are also a great way to combine education and play!

How tutoring can help prevent summer learning loss

Tutoring is another resource you can use to help your child stay engaged in learning during the summer. There are several benefits of tutoring, and 1-on-1 instruction can help keep your child fresh on skills and catch up on concepts they may have forgotten throughout the school year.

Tutoring helps fill in gaps

Tutoring can help your child identify areas of weakness and reinforce skills and concepts they may be struggling with. Tutors can also tailor sessions to your child’s learning style and build customized plans to ensure your child is caught up and ready for the next school year.

Tutoring provides enrichment opportunities and makes learning exciting

Another great benefit of working with a tutor is that they can incorporate your child’s interests and hobbies into sessions. Tutors can create custom worksheets or exercises that fit your child’s favorite sports, music, etc. Tutors can also incorporate fun challenges or games into the learning process and create a social environment that allows your child to gain confidence and improve their attitude towards learning.

Tutoring helps your child advance

The most important and obvious benefit of tutoring is that it’ll help your child get caught up and ahead of the game for the upcoming school year. Not only does tutoring help reduce school-related stress, but it also helps your child get ready for all the new challenges they’ll face in the new school year.

📖 Sign Up for GoPeer’s Summer Reading Challenge

Another great way to stay engaged this summer is to sign up for a reading program or reading challenge. This year, GoPeer is giving away prizes for students who compete in their Summer Reading Challenge!

Students who sign up will receive a welcome kit that includes fun swag and a log to keep track of their reading, which they can then share with GoPeer to redeem awesome prizes throughout the summer! Click the banner above to enter and receive more information.

View our suggested reading by grade level here

What is GoPeer?

GoPeer.org is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for personalized lessons.

GoPeer’s mission is to improve the quality and lower the cost of education by providing high-quality tutoring at 1/3 the national average cost of professional tutoring. This is why all tutoring sessions on GoPeer are always $20/hr when you become a member. Plus, 100% of the $20/hr goes directly to the tutors.

Want to get in touch? Send us a message via our website at GoPeer.org.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news!

How to Prevent Summer Slide and Learning Loss during Summer Vacation was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

For our first Founders Scholarship, we asked students to submit personal narrative essays about how their GoPeer tutor has supported them throughout their education. The goal was to provide students with an opportunity to practice their writing skills and win one of three prizes.

It was amazing to see the number of submissions and a privilege to hear such inspiring and moving stories. Thank you to all students who submitted their stories and shared their unique perspectives! Even if you did not place, we hope you enjoyed the challenge and encourage you to keep an eye out for future opportunities such as our Founders Scholarship!

Announcing our Founders Scholarship Winners

We’re so excited to present this year’s scholarship winners and congratulate them for their amazing work.

Lance C. — 1st Place

How has GoPeer helped me in my education journey? GoPeer has single-handedly changed my perspective on how I view my education. In my freshman year, I had a 68 percent in my algebra class. The minimum grade to pass any class at my school is 65 percent. I was slacking off at the start of my freshman year as I tried to get a grasp on my math class, but when I saw my low grade I knew I had to do something. If I simply did nothing, I would have to spend an entire summer in summer school, and possibly have to retake the entire class. So, I consulted with my parents to help look for options. That’s when I found GoPeer, and when everything started to turn around.

My tutor, Elizabeth, put concepts into ways that I can personally understand. This is important to me because I have ADHD. My school works hard to teach me in a way that works for me, but I feel that having GoPeer really makes that difference. Having someone who can meet with me one on one and truly understands my learning style has really helped out in the long run. When I started to learn from a completely different perspective, my grade slowly started to turn around. I started learning the lessons and taking more time and effort to understand what they were saying in school. I was less frustrated and had less anxiety. After using GoPeer as a helpful tool to make sure I understood Algebra, I finished the 4th quarter with an 88 percent, 20 percent higher than what I started. I even aced my exam, which would not have been possible without GoPeer! Teachers started to notice all the hard work I put into my classes and they were proud of me, and I was proud of myself. I headed into summer feeling on top of the world and had no worries in the back of my mind.

Coming into this year Elizabeth has continued to help me. This time in Geometry. She is extremely knowledgeable and able to break things down for me in an easy to understand way. Geometry is entirely different from the Algebra she taught me last year but I still benefit so much from our weekly meetings. In addition, I found out she also can tutor in American Sign language. This is helpful because I am taking this class as well. We have a lot of good laughs as she also makes this subject really stand out for me.

In conclusion, GoPeer single-handedly saved my grades and outlook on school. Not only did my tutor teach me the fundamental concepts of math, but she also taught me how to be more organized, and she taught me how to have a better work ethic as well. I applied everything she taught me for the past two years, and my grades have skyrocketed because of it. I will always be grateful for GoPeer and all the things they have enabled me to learn on my school journey. Elizabeth is still my tutor today, and I am far from failing any of my math classes. I would not be the student I am today without the help of GoPeer. I would highly recommend GoPeer for students who have learning disabilities, are starting off trying to improve their grades, or who simply want to master any subject.

Xavier S. — 2nd Place

My GoPeer tutor, Frances, has supported me throughout my second semester of 9th-grade algebra. When I first started at my school, I thought I was a whiz at math. Algebra quickly showed me that I had some gaps. I’m not sure if it was the pandemic, or perhaps my foundation was shaky. After the holidays, my parents came to me and told me I had to get a tutor. I was not excited because I didn’t want anyone in my home, and I was entirely over anything related to Zoom. However, they let me pick who I wanted and I immediately clicked with Frances.

My parents set it up so that I do all of my homework with her, prepared for tests, and requested that she helped me close the gaps I obviously had and didn’t know about. Let’s just say, I had a very low-grade fall semester. Like, an invitation to summer school low grade. I’m happy to say I am sitting at a solid 93% now. My mother has bragged on her Instagram account about it, and I must say I am proud too. I don’t know what I would have done without Frances. I used to feel insecure at test time. But, the night before tests and quizzes, I set up my meeting with her (I do it myself now), and we go over the material. I can ask as many questions as I need, and the way she explains really breaks it down and helps me to better understand the material.

She even works with and around my basketball schedule. She agrees to meet with me at 8:00 pm my time which is 11:00 pm her time. She is very patient with me, and I am very grateful for her support and that GoPeer exists. I have no idea what I am going to do next year because she is a senior. But, I am confident that I will be ok because when she sees that I am missing something, she will start with that the next meeting and explain why we’re going over it. I enjoy our time together. I am even able to help other people now with confidence. That is how my tutor, Francis, and GoPeer has supported me through my education.

Kaylynne L. — 3rd Place

My name is Kaylynne, and I am a high school sophomore who hopes to attend a high-level University and study social science one day. To study the “soft” sciences at a top University I must do well in all subject areas, even those that I do not like learning the most. GoPeer and primarily my geometry and chemistry tutor, Jason from the University of Maryland have helped me a great deal. I suffer from crippling test-taking anxiety. Jason has not only given me the help I need to go from having C’s in geometry and chemistry to A’s, he has also made me feel confident in my abilities to do well on tests. Jason makes our tutoring sessions fun and is always encouraging me even when I get down on myself. I am often in awe of how easy geometry and especially chemistry come to Jason, and I admire his ability to teach these subjects so well. My school was not able to provide good tutors or even suggest any and I am very grateful to GoPeer and Jason for their services.

Jason is great at taking a problem, breaking it down step by step, and teaching me to do the same. I have never seen myself as someone who is good at math or science but now, I am the one teaching my friends at school these subjects. My chem teacher often asks how I have turned my grades around so well. I tell her about GoPeer’s services and Jason.

At first, I was reluctant to do online tutoring because when I had to do online school, I really didn’t like it. Luckily, Jason is great at teaching in this format, and I went from dreading meeting online to enjoying it and valuing the time he spends teaching and helping me. I cannot thank GoPeer and Jason enough for the help they have provided me, and I hope Jason always has the time to help me with math and science because he has really helped me to see myself as someone who can be successful in these subjects. Even though Jason and I only meet online the time is used extremely well and I often feel like he is right there helping me. I would really recommend GoPeer to anyone who even just wants to raise their confidence before a test. It is a great service with many qualified college students who just want to help others and earn some extra money.

What is GoPeer?

GoPeer.org is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for personalized lessons.

GoPeer’s mission is to improve the quality and lower the cost of education by providing high-quality tutoring at 1/3 the national average cost of professional tutoring. This is why all tutoring sessions on GoPeer are always $20/hr when you become a member. Plus, 100% of the $20/hr goes directly to the tutors.

Want to get in touch? Send us a message via our website at GoPeer.org.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news!

GoPeer’s Founders Scholarship Winners May 2022 was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

At GoPeer, we are constantly inspired and motivated by the potential and grit of our students!

We have seen the power of near-peer tutoring firsthand, and one of the most incredible things we’ve learned is that there is no limit to what a student can achieve when provided with the proper support and resources. We know that coming across the right help is difficult and costly. However, we believe it doesn’t have to be this way!

We are moving one step closer toward our goal of making high-quality education more accessible with our newly launched Founders Scholarship.

GoPeer’s Founders Scholarship

We are excited to announce our Founders Scholarship for current GoPeer students! We will be awarding one $1,000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships to students who answer the following question:

How has your GoPeer tutor supported you through your education?

Requirements

• Must be a current GoPeer Student
• Must submit an essay between 250 and 800 words

Deadline

The deadline to submit your essay is Friday, April 29th, at 11:59 PM.

👇 Enter to win GoPeer’s Founders Scholarship here 👇

Founding Story

GoPeer was founded in 2017 by Ethan Binder, Zura Mestiashvili, and Erik Laucks from their dorm rooms at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. The team believes that inaccessible education is fundamentally a cost problem. Traditional tutoring’s high costs are a barrier to entry for students, who wind up feeling neglected by supplementary education systems. GoPeer aimed to solve this problem by recruiting elite college students as educators, tapping into a world of talent. The concept gained widespread praise from families and undergraduates, and GoPeer was born.

What is GoPeer?

GoPeer.org is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for personalized lessons.

GoPeer’s mission is to improve the quality and lower the cost of education by providing high-quality tutoring at 1/3 the national average cost of professional tutoring. This is why all tutoring sessions on GoPeer are always $20/hr when you become a member. Plus, 100% of the $20/hr goes directly to the tutors.

Want to get in touch? Send us a message via our website at GoPeer.org.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news!

Announcing GoPeer’s Founders Scholarship | Essay Competiton for Students was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Erin is an instructor at GoPeer. She is currently pursuing a major in Neuroscience at Boston University.

When did you know you wanted to study Neuroscience?

Throughout high school and entering college, I knew that I was extremely interested in studying a combination of science and psychology classes. I had a strong passion for understanding how cells coalesce to form working organs and systems and how this contributes to normal physiological and psychological functioning. I also gained an interest in neuroscience through volunteering and working with children with disabilities. I wondered how a mutation in the genome could lead to physical disabilities and was interested in possible remedies for these disabilities. Wanting to continue my interest in science in college, I chose to study neuroscience.

What is your favorite thing about Boston University?

My favorite thing about Boston College is that it offers a diverse range of activities that students are able to contribute to. Not only does the institution give its students an exceptional education, but it also encourages them to engage in various clubs and activities. For example, I am participating in a club called Relay for Life in which we help raise money for cancer research. I am also a participant in the Campus School where I volunteer to read to children with severe disabilities. On the academic side, I am the treasurer of an honors society called Nu Rho Psi that allows me to encourage others’ interest in neuroscience. All of these clubs and so many others that I have been involved with at Boston College have allowed me to carry out my passion for helping others.

Why do you think teaching online is beneficial?

Teaching online is very beneficial because it allows both students and tutors to meet online anywhere in the world for a lesson. Especially during the times of the pandemic, this platform has allowed students to meet with tutors and for them to strengthen their education. In addition, GoPeer’s online teaching platform allows tutors to draw out problems and explanations for various subjects. I have tutored math and science subjects many times and this platform has maximized the success of students in the past.

What are some of your teaching principles or strategies?

Personally, the most essential teaching principle for me is to individualize each tutoring session that I hold. I know that all students have different learning strategies and may apprehend information best through various ways, and I desire to tailor each lesson to the student to maximize the success of each lesson. I encourage students to send class resources such as problems, worksheets, notes, etc. that I can use to help with tailoring the lesson to each students’ specific needs. If the student does not have classroom materials, I create other helpful resources and practice problems to walk the student through the topic of interest.

Why do you think college students make great tutors?

I think college students make great tutors because they have recently been through the same experiences as students who are seeking help through GoPeer. They understand thoroughly how elementary, middle and high school teachers educate their students and know, in my opinion, best how to help students because of this. In addition, college students are engaging in rigorous courses with difficult material that they have to understand themselves. Through this process of working with others, independent studying, etc. they better understand how to not only teach themselves this new material, but also the best learning strategies that they can share with GoPeer students.

What do you think is most unique about GoPeer?

I think that the most unique thing about GoPeer is that GoPeer’s online platform allows easy communication between students and tutors. Its database sets up students with recommended tutors when a student first signs up. From there, it is extremely easy for a tutor and student to communicate and set up a lesson. The online classroom is easy to join and allows for a smooth lesson to take place, offering unique areas in which students and tutors can write notes, upload documents, and draw sketches.

Any advice for students or parents who are interested in GoPeer?

I advise students or parents who are interested in GoPeer to search for a tutor who will best match the student’s needs. There are many tutors on the site and each tutor excels in different subjects. I encourage communication with a prospective tutor in order to determine which tutor best fits these needs. In addition to education, I encourage students and parents to inquire about the tutor’s goals and dreams for the future. Since we are college students, we are able to offer lots of advice about the future to you or your student!

What do you do outside of teaching with GoPeer?

Outside of teaching GoPeer, I love running in my free time and relaxing with my friends! I also enjoy participating in clubs. On the weekends, I like to explore the city of Boston with my friends and check out all of the history that it has to offer.

View Erin’s GoPeer Tutoring Profile to learn more about his qualifications & teaching experience.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news!

Tutor of the Week: Erin from Boston College was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Julie D. is an instructor at GoPeer. She is currently pursuing a major in Nursing at Boston College.

What kind of schools were you considering when applying?

When I was applying to college, I was not sure which schools to apply to. Being a first-generation student, my family members could not really tell me about which schools would be a potential good fit for me and whatnot. So, I had to do some research on my own — all without the help of a guidance counselor while being remote due to the pandemic. I was not sure at all which schools to consider or even think about, I just knew nursing school is where I belong and so I remember searching up “best nursing schools in Massachusetts.”

Also, I knew I wanted to go to school here in Massachusetts more because I have never given thought to going out of state and I feel like especially with the field I am going into, I see myself being successful here and working in the medical field in this state. Knowing my financial circumstances, I knew state schools were a go for sure. Furthermore, knowing that because of my financial circumstances I could apply to colleges for free, I went crazy and took advantage of this opportunity and applied to 16 schools. I applied to so many schools because I wanted to have options to choose from and most importantly financial aid packages to choose from. I applied to a total of 16 schools: Becker College, Boston College, Curry College, Emmanuel College, Endicott, MCPHS, Northeastern University, Regis College, Simmons University, UMASS Amherst, UMASS Boston, UMASS Dartmouth, UMASS Lowell, Elms College, Salem State, and Worcester State. Fortunately, I was 16 for 16 in all the schools I applied to.

Did you know what you wanted to study ahead of time? How did your academic interests influence your decision?

I knew what I wanted to study ahead of time because I had the opportunity to attend Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical Program. At first, when I came to the Southeastern I was set to go into the Early Education program. However, when I went through the exploration stage, I realized that was not the right fit for me and instead, I was fascinated by the medical assisting shop. When I entered that shop, I enjoyed the constant teamwork with classmates during times we would perform skills on one another, practice our vitals do critical thinking, and so much more. For my duration of the four years in the medical assisting shop, I have learned and done so much such as obtain vital signs, document chief complaints, perform point of care CLIA labs, perform EKGs, phlebotomy, learn about the body systems, medical terminology, the laws and ethics of medicine, and most of all got the opportunity to go on clinical or Co-Op to apply the skills I am learning in my vocational program to a real-life medical setting.

I left Southeastern certified as a clinical medical assistant with not only medical skills but employability skills, technical skills, and so much more that will contribute to my success in the future. I can definitely say that I have a “leg up” because I went to a vocational school. I plan to be a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and because of the experience, knowledge, and practice in the medical assisting program that I would not have been able to get at an ordinary high school, I am ready for these next four years at BC. Southeastern allowed me to figure out what it is that I want to do with my future. It has created a strong foundation for me to build upon after leaving high school. I now have technical skills, employability skills, all grounded in a strong work ethic. I often ask myself, where would I have been on my journey and what would my future be, had I not realized my true career was in the medical field? I am thankful that I was able to set my course early on. Furthermore, the healthcare system is filled with the most amazing, determined, strong-willed, humble, skillful, attentive, selfless, hardworking, and passionate group of workers and I strongly feel it is with this group of individuals that I see myself working with in the future making a change in others lives, but also making myself a better person. The healthcare system will always be around and is important to build a better future for the world and many lives to come.

Now moving on to academics, academics did sort of play a part in what I wanted to study in a way that I knew I enjoyed learning about science specifically biology so I enjoy topics like anatomy and physiology and find it very interesting to study the human body and its anatomy. But overall I knew that I needed to excel academically in order to get into Nursing School so I worked diligently in all of my classes.

How big of a role did location play in your decision?

I currently live on campus and am about 45 minutes away from home. Location played a semi-role in my decision. I knew I wanted to stay here in Massachusetts and somewhat close to home. One reason is that I just never gave thought to go anywhere outside of the state.

Secondly, I feel like here in Massachusetts we have one of the top schools in the country and home of world-renowned hospitals and I see myself growing in learning in these areas. Thirdly. being a first-generation student, I found that going out of state might bring about more challenges and difficulties that I would have to navigate all while being a nursing major so now looking at it I am glad I chose to stay close to home.

What other factors did you consider when choosing a school?

As I mentioned above, I applied to state schools knowing my chances were really high in getting accepted into them, and then I applied to two far-reaching schools: Northeastern University and Boston College. I applied to these schools mostly because I felt like I wanted to challenge myself and test my limits to see how I could perform in an environment where everyone there has excelled and done amazing things in high school, some incredible projects, excelled academically, and whatnot. No disrespect to state schools, I actually promote and advocate state schools because of the access and resources.

However, I felt like high school I was always at the top and doing well academically and the top student in nearly everything, it was great to be in that position but I felt like if I went to a state school where I might find myself again in a classroom where I might be the “smartest” or “top” student not that anything comes easy, but I wanted to be in an academic environment where I felt that I kept challenging myself. I feel like if I went to a state school I would just continue to excel in ways I already have done and reached in high school and now being at BC, the coursework here is rigorous and I feel like each and every day a new challenge is brought to me. Not that state schools do not deliver this, I just felt like I wanted to give it a try and see how it would be!

Why did you choose to attend Boston College?

My favorite thing about Boston College is the THEA Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center (BAIC) Office here on campus. That office is where my community and home are at BC. It offers me a plethora of resources from books for my classes, book awards, scholarships, access to tutoring, mentoring, and academic advising, to providing toiletries and every support that I can ask for being an AHANA student on campus. Every time I enter that environment and community space, everyone is welcoming and I know that office is filled with staff that wants to see me grow and succeed in these next four years at BC. This office puts on monthly grab-and-go lunches, hosts retreats, celebrates and decorates for nearly every cultural event/holiday, and all in all, is inclusive and mindful of every single AHANA student on campus.

Even students who are not AHANA are welcomed in this office. Furthermore, there is a quiet study space it offers us students to study and get our assignments done, it has a laptop loan program, it provides snacks to us throughout the day and so many more! I am grateful for the number of resources and support the Thea Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center offers to AHANA students here at Boston College to help us in every area to enable us to build community, support one another, and grow and prosper as individuals in these next few years.

What do you do outside of teaching with GoPeer?

Outside of teaching with GoPeer I would say my number one thing would be classes and getting assignments done and studying for exams as I make my GoPeer schedule around class time and club meetings.

Extracurricular-wise, I am involved in the Emerging Leader Program (ELP) here at BC. “Since its inception in 1988, the Emerging Leader Program (ELP) has earned the reputation of being a premiere leadership program for first-year students at Boston College. Each year, 50 first-year students are selected to participate in the one-year leadership development program. Guided by the Social Change Model of leadership development, ELP aims to form leaders for others. By participating in ELP, students develop the leadership skills and competencies necessary to facilitate positive change on campus and in their communities.” (Boston College wesbsite)

For ELP we meet weekly on Tues from 6 to 8 PM focusing on the Jesuit values and incorporating leadership within it. For me, the ELP has enabled me to reflect and assess the qualities I possess as a leader and to build upon them to become a better and more effective leader in all aspects of life. Not only am I able to take the qualities I already possess but learn about where my weaknesses are as a leader and build from that. In learning to become an effective leader, I have learned that no one is truly ever a leader because it is something that is ongoing and you keep working towards becoming a leader. Furthermore, this program has empowered me to demonstrate my leadership skills in all facets of my life and to fulfill the Jesuit values at my school within being a leader. I hope to use the skills and knowledge I have gained in ELP to help foster a deeper connection to BC, to become well-rounded, to work with others who are working to bring about change, and to bring about the change in our community for the better. I hope by the end of this year through my participation in the ELP I hope to develop my leadership philosophy and attain the skills I need to continue on the path of becoming an effective leader.

I am also the AHANA Representative to the CSON Senate at my school. I have not further explored my position/role very much this year as I am only a freshman and our senate is still getting to know the process of how things work. However, I can talk about why I chose to be AHANA Rep of the Connell School of Nursing class of 2025.

because I strongly care about the well-being of you and individuals in our nursing community in making efforts so everyone feels safe, welcomed, accepted, included regardless of age, sex, gender, religion, race, and ethnicity.

One key skill I have for this position is being an activist. I am someone who believes in standing up for what I believe is morally right. I believe in taking steps even if they are small yet progressive in achieving goals for our AHANA Community and everyone.

I have taken many activist positions within my high school community by serving as class manager and junior class president, becoming an active member of the student leadership team, and more notably, given the nature of the last school year, I took an even bigger role of becoming the student representative of the entire student body. Being part of the school committee and student representative of the entire student body of my high school, I voiced all the opinions, ideas, concerns, and issues students have in regards to school. I wrote monthly reports to convey their thoughts and feelings about remote learning and all aspects of their experience in the building to the school committee. I ensured that their thoughts were being heard and acknowledged by the administration. It was difficult to survey all the students and get their feedback because they feel that the school might not care. However, I worked diligently and consistently to instill that their opinions matter, and they are very much acknowledged and valued.

Having been part of the student leadership team at my high school. I came up with ways to make our school more inclusive and came up with projects that we strongly believe our school needed to make it more welcoming for all. I will strive to actively work in our CSON community and be an active member and activist not just for me but for AHANA and CSON students as well and most importantly for the future nursing students of BC. Although it can be very hard being an activist because sometimes I feel like I have no control and nothing is being done, but I remind myself that I cannot give up.

As the AHANA Representative, I hope to make strides and that the results of my senate will produce a surge in a deeper and definable connection between AHANA students to our school community. I also want AHANA students to know that their concerns are being heard and enable them to share those concerns with me.

I also spend time in the gym working out. Going to the gym is something I look forward to because I feel more connected with my mind, body, and soul especially after a long stressful day, going to the gym and testing my physical limits, and listening to music is something I find peace in. In addition, outside of GoPeer, I enjoy searching for opportunities on campus that will allow me to become better connected with the BC community and I work at the BAIC office and BC Catering department.

View Julie’s GoPeer Tutoring Profile to learn more about her qualifications & teaching experience.

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Where Should I Go to College? Advice from a Boston College Student was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

GoPeer has designed a mobile app that simplifies communication between parents or students with their tutor! The app makes it easier to view and reply to messages, schedule and confirm lessons, and find a tutor on the go when needed.

With the app, you can:

• Receive and reply to new messages
• Send photos or files as messages
• Book and confirm lessons
• Request recommendations and match with new tutors
• Join an active lesson and use your phone or tablet as a sketchpad
• Change from light and dark mode
• Add family members to your family portal and more!

You can download the GoPeer Mobile App on the App Store for iOS or Google Play store for Android.

For more information on how to use the app, please visit our Help Center.

About GoPeer

GoPeer is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for 1-to-1 lessons.

Students and tutors communicate through GoPeer’s secure online classroom, using tools like real-time face-to-face video conferencing, photo/document sharing, and a virtual whiteboard/notepad to collaborate or edit essays.

Not only can a near-peer mentor provide personalized, up-to-date academic guidance, but also they can do so with the empathy that only someone who has recently been in the student’s shoes can provide.

Want to learn more? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news or visit us at GoPeer.org

Meet GoPeer’s Mobile App was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

From creating a list of goals for the spring semester to helping your child fix their sleep schedule, there are many strategies you can use to help your child get back into school mode.

Do you want to help your child start the new year off on the right foot? Here are some tips that can help your child thrive and successfully ease back into a school routine:

Organize and Plan Important Dates and Events

One way to get your child excited about going back to school is by treating them to a new planner! Let them pick their planner, and maybe go as far as to pick up new highlighters and stickers that they can use when updating their planner.

Create a list of important dates and goals that you can write down in a planner or calendar. When thinking of important things to mark down, take a look at your child’s syllabus for test dates, major assignments, projects, etc., and think about personal items, like family events, holidays, or vacation days.

It’s essential to complete this task with your child because it can help them learn planning from a young age, and it can also help your child have a better idea of what’s to come in the following months.

Implement a Sleep Schedule

Sleep is crucial for a student’s development and growth, and adequate sleep contributes to a student’s overall health and wellbeing! Students should get a proper amount of sleep at night to help them stay focused and improve their concentration and academic performance.

Before school starts again, try to practice healthy sleep habits by limiting screen time and technology use at least 30 minutes before bedtime or encouraging them to participate in a relaxing activity like reading before bed.

Set Goals for the New Year

Setting goals is an essential part of preparing for the future and achieving success. Goals can help keep your child focused, provide structure, and teach them about accountability. Setting goals requires careful planning and consideration that will be a helpful tool your child will likely use for the rest of their life.

Sit down with your child and ask them what they would like to achieve this year. Ask them to think about areas where they feel they need to improve and also ask them to reflect on how the school year has been going. What were some of their strengths? Weaknesses? What did they do well?

Taking time to sit and think about what they want to accomplish this new year will benefit them greatly by allowing them to take an active role in their future and education.

Transitions can be stressful but don’t worry; everything eases with time! Remember to check in with your child often and keep communication open as they may be nervous about going back to school. Good luck and happy learning!

How GoPeer Can Help

GoPeer is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for 1-to-1 lessons.

Students and tutors communicate through GoPeer’s secure online classroom, using tools like real-time face-to-face video conferencing, photo/document sharing, and a virtual whiteboard/notepad to collaborate or edit essays.

Not only can a near-peer mentor provide personalized, up-to-date academic guidance, but also they can do so with the empathy that only someone who has recently been in the student’s shoes can provide.

See What Happy Families Say About GoPeer

“I was skeptical to use an online platform… I couldn’t have been more wrong! My daughter went from failing the class to getting an A!” — Michaela, GoPeer Parent

“I have so much fun with my tutor and love learning new subjects. GoPeer is amazing for students who need tutoring help, and I highly recommend.” — Jaime, GoPeer Student

“My son immediately felt comfortable with his tutor, and with the one-on-one instruction paired with the tools in the platform, it has worked like a gem thus far. My son aced two tests, and he has only had 4 sessions!! It is worth every penny.” — Brook, GoPeer Parent

Want to learn more? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news or visit us at GoPeer.org

How to Get Back into a School Routine was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Andrew is an instructor at GoPeer. He is currently pursuing a major in Computer Science at Cornell University.

When did you know you wanted to study Computer Science?

I knew I wanted to study Computer Science after taking my high school’s AP Computer Science class. The power of computers always amazed me and I realize how much impact you can make from anywhere in the world.

What is your favorite thing about Cornell University?

My favorite thing about Cornell University is its people. Everyone here is so welcoming and willing to help and talk to you. It’s the people I believe make Cornell the university it is.

Why do you think teaching online is beneficial?

Teaching online is beneficial as it offers flexibility and allows you to learn from anywhere in the world. It also opens up more opportunities to meet new people who have different backgrounds and knowledge. It brings joy knowing I help someone who was struggling to finish an AP CS assignment to get a 5 on the AP exam.

What are some of your teaching principles or strategies?

One of my teaching principles is to always be a peer to the student instead of a “tutor.” I want to help students and make the students feel comfortable expressing ideas and that they feel comfortable offering their ideas to solve problems.

Why do you think college students make great tutors?

College students make great tutors as they are very familiar with the material the student has. The college students have done the same type of problems and know how to better explain the problem.

What do you think is most unique about GoPeer?

GoPeer is unique as it helps students at a fraction of the price of regular tutoring services. Paying less for tutoring does not mean a lack of quality as GoPeer is filled with bright tutors.

Any advice for students or parents who are interested in GoPeer?

Definitely give it a try! Many tutors offer the first free lesson and you never know when a tutor can just make things make sense for the students.

What do you do outside of teaching with GoPeer?

Outside of GoPeer, I enjoy working out and learning how to DJ.

View Andrew’s GoPeer Tutoring Profile to learn more about his qualifications & teaching experience.

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Tutor of the Week: Andrew from Cornell University was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

When students begin to struggle with their school work, it’s best to get them to help sooner rather than later. Ideally, students should have access to resources to help them succeed before they even need them, but it can be difficult to know when your student is struggling in school without paying close attention.

Children and teens may not always disclose how they’re feeling about school or their school performance, especially if they’re not feeling good about it.

Do you think your child is struggling with school? Here are five signs that can help you identify that your child may need help.

They Avoid Talking About School

A sign that your child may be struggling with school is their refusal or avoidance to tell you how things are going at school. They may not tell you what they’re learning, how their school day went, or follow up on how assignments and tests turned out. They could also avoid talking about the subjects they are struggling most with.

Their Attitude Toward School has Changed

You may tell that something is not right at school if you sense a change in attitude toward school or learning. Your child may suddenly or gradually become distant, annoyed, or angry towards school, which is a clear indicator that they aren’t enjoying school or they aren’t enjoying how things are going.

Kids struggling in school will also have trouble finding school interesting, leading them to complain or whine about how bored they are at school. Boredom can be a clear sign that they either don’t understand what’s going on in school or are not being challenged intellectually at school.

Your child may also look for excuses to miss school, whether it be coming down with an illness or complaining about a teacher or classmate.

Changes in Friends or Activities

Another sign to look out for are changes in friends, hobbies, or interests. Has your child stopped doing something they enjoy? Have there been any changes in their friend group? Are they hanging out or talking about new friends, or do you no longer see their old friends? Are they spending more time than usual on assignments, leaving them less time to do things they enjoy?

These are all important questions that may help you identify changes that could be affecting their studies or behavior.

Changes in Sleeping or Eating Habits

Changes in how much they are sleeping or eating can also indicate issues, similar to the sign above. If you find that your child is sleeping more, they may be feeling down or depressed. If they are having problems sleeping or eating often, they may be experiencing anxiety or excessive worry.

Receiving Low Grades

Doing poorly in school is an obvious sign of issues, but sometimes, it can be overlooked. An occasional poor grade on one assignment may not be a cause for concern, but a pattern of low grades should be alarming and a clear indicator that your child needs help.

How You Can Help

If you suspect your child may be having a hard time in school, there are several things you can do to help them. Recognize asking for help is difficult, and your child may not want to acknowledge that they need help, so have a conversation with them about school and if there’s anything you can do to help them feel better.

Everyone needs help at some point, and it’s important to be proactive about seeking help, if possible. Reach out to their school counselor or teacher for support and information about how they’re doing. They may be able to assist you in finding resources to help.

Another way to help students struggling academically is by getting a tutor. Tutoring can be a great way to develop study and learning skills to help your child achieve their goals. You can find a tutor who can help prepare, review, and practice for upcoming tests and go over material they’re struggling with.

How GoPeer Can Help

GoPeer is the easiest way to find your next tutor! GoPeer pairs K-12 students with qualified college students from top universities for 1-to-1 lessons.

Students and tutors communicate through GoPeer’s secure online classroom, using tools like real-time face-to-face video conferencing, photo/document sharing, and a virtual whiteboard/notepad to collaborate or edit essays.

Not only can a near-peer mentor provide personalized, up-to-date academic guidance, but also they can do so with the empathy that only someone who has recently been in the student’s shoes can provide.

See What Happy Families Say About GoPeer

“I was skeptical to use an online platform… I couldn’t have been more wrong! My daughter went from failing the class to getting an A!” — Michaela, GoPeer Parent

“I have so much fun with my tutor and love learning new subjects. GoPeer is amazing for students who need tutoring help, and I highly recommend.” — Jaime, GoPeer Student

“My son immediately felt comfortable with his tutor, and with the one-on-one instruction paired with the tools in the platform, it has worked like a gem thus far. My son aced two tests, and he has only had 4 sessions!! It is worth every penny.” — Brook, GoPeer Parent

Want to learn more? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest GoPeer news or visit us at GoPeer.org

Signs Your Child is Struggling in School was originally published in GoPeer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.