Tutors do wonders

Free tutoring is offered at Citrus College and students just need to know where to go in order to get the help they need to succeed.

The Learning Center, located in the ED Building offers students peer tutoring in different subjects ranging from math to music.

One of the tutors in the Learning Center is Carolyn Wheeler, 23, an All-Star cheerleader and a volunteer at a local elementary school.

She  tutors students who are having trouble passing math.  

Wheeler, who is majoring in engineering, plans to transfer to Cal Poly Pomona in two years.

"By majoring in engineering, I feel that I would be eligible for many jobs in the future," she said.

Students need to be currently enrolled in six units or more at Citrus College in order to be a tutor.

They must also complete an initial training in tutoring methods and participate in observations with a seasoned tutor that provide information regarding working with students who have disabilities and students from diverse cultural backgrounds.  

Olivia Canales oversees the applications and hires the tutors herself.  

Students must come to tutorial services, request a tutor form and then be recommended after they submit the application.

"I go over their form, I hire them first, and then we get on with their tutor trainings. It takes approximately three hours, sometimes maybe more," Canales said.

"One of the best parts about being a tutor is that it is extremely flexible," Wheeler said. "Education is so important, but I do budget my time wisely. I come to work early and do my homework. Every half an hour counts," she said.

Darlene Herrera, 26, criminal justice major, is a math tutor in the Learning Center. She has been working there for six years.

Herrera works a strict schedule because she attends Cal State Fullerton for night classes and attends Citrus in the mornings.

"Maintaining school and work is a struggle, and usually on the weekends I just stay home and study and do homework," Herrera said.

If Canales sees students who are hard working, then she will go the extra mile and give the student an extra hour with the tutor. "I have students calling us back with thanks for helping them with the subject."

Last year, Wheeler tutored a student who has cerebral palsy, and was having difficulty passing math. With Wheeler's help, the student passed Math 130 with a B on the third try.

No online tutoring is available at the moment because the guidelines through distance education state that all tutoring sessions have to be monitored.

Appointments need to be made a minimum of 24 hours in advance before a tutoring session can commence.

In order to be tutored, a student must have his or her ID card present. Students can pick up a tutor request form in ED 212. Students who would like to  tutor can also pick up a tutor request form from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.