Pete has been volunteering for 826michigan since 2016 and he’s been a huge supporter of tutoring, the program we’ve renamed Virtual Schoolwork Support, since then. As an experienced volunteer, he’s been a leader for us! We can pair him with new volunteers so he can show them how to do things. One way that Pete breaks the ice with students is by making the background of his zoom a conversation starter by using different backgrounds from places he has traveled. His favorite 826michigan memory is actually a video shoutout from students from a couple of years ago, and the students highlighted some things we all love about partnering with Pete: he is engaging and friendly AND he knows how to support the students in taking care of business and tackling their homework.
Favorite 826michigan Memory
A video shoutout a couple of years ago from one of the students: “I like working with Pete. We get things done.” That made my day.
This is representative of Pete. He’s focused on whatever the students want to work on and is friendly and approachable. He’s a reliable tutor. When he says he’s going to do something, he does it. During the pandemic he even set up a whiteboard to model how to solve math problems and used a second camera. This fantastic innovation is so delightful and helpful to students.
After-school tutoring is the best, particularly when it’s math. Algebra, calculus, trigonometry, they’re all great.
Pete W.
Advice for other 826michigan volunteers:
Relax, treat all the students as adults, read more books, and just enjoy it all.
Favorite book:
Haruki Murakami’s “1Q84.” It’s a masterpiece.
Strategy for surviving a robot takeover:
Non-rechargeable batteries. It’s a long-term strategy. They’ll all run out of power eventually.
