Peer Tutoring Program

Updates about the program

Testimonials

“By my senior year at Garfield, I felt a great connection with the community and the people that surrounded me. I thought I understood what the Garfield spirit looked like. However, my experience in the tutoring program revealed a part of my community that I had no idea I was missing out on for three years. I was struck by the differences between the classes I tutored in and the ones I had attended as a student. I realized the connection I felt was with one specific part of my school, with the same students who’d been set on a specific path at Garfield. Gaining this insight into the inequity that was right under my nose shifted my idea of Garfield, but by being part of the tutoring program I felt I deepened my bond with the community. Through my experience as a tutor, I met students that came from many backgrounds with many different aspirations and goals. Working alongside them to help achieve these goals, that sometimes looked different from my own, pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way I won’t soon forget.
“Being part of this unique program that views education, not just as material read off by a teacher to prepare for tests, but as a living breathing thing that is cultivated by all who walk the halls is an experience I cherish. The continued effort towards equity in education of all who are involved in the tutoring program represent what the Garfield spirit is.” —Kennedy, former editor of The Messenger, Class of 2024

“The tutoring program was one of the most impactful experiences I had at Garfield. Getting to tutor as a senior recommitted me to the Garfield community in a way a lot of us lost post-Covid. It was active practice in community building and provided a space for mentors and mentees alike to grow in their own ways. Freshmen got academic support as well as social-emotional guidance. Tutors were asked to identify and solve problems, and our social skills were built as we were encouraged to interact with students we wouldn’t have otherwise.” —Remi, Senior Tutor, Class of 2024

“When I started this program, I would have never known how this class would impact me. The sheer embarrassment and guilt that comes with it is just a tax for the relationships I have built and the pride I get from tutoring all these people.
“In a way, I wish this was a required course, but it would never function the same that way. There would be no stipend, no room, and the connections would feel less meaningful. I am eternally grateful to be selected for this program. I wish that this program was required just because it is the most humbling thing I have ever done, besides the PE pullup test.” —Senior Tutor, Class of 2024

“Through word of mouth, the Garfield High School Peer Tutoring Program has quickly spread among the student body and is regarded as a uniquely challenging opportunity, with many of our tutors describing it as the most thought-provoking course they have been tasked with at Garfield.
“From the beginning, we have been clear that we wish for this program to serve our tutors first, to present them a view of Garfield and public education that they would not receive as a traditional student, and to lift the curtain on being a teacher and working in education in order to plant early seeds that may blossom into the great educators of our future.
“The tutors are not the only group at Garfield who have benefited tremendously from this new program. Hundreds of students have benefited from several thousand hours of extra tutoring provided by the Garfield Peer Tutors, receiving not only academic support but mentorship and a valuable foothold in the Garfield community.” —Jamie Rees, Staff Member

Testimonials about the scholarships

1. “I have truly found my place here at Dartmouth and I cannot thank the Golden Grads Scholarship enough for helping give me this opportunity. From taking classes in the historic buildings of Hanover, New Hampshire to being on a national championship winning team to being able to study Spanish in Buenos Aires, going to Dartmouth has been an honor that I hope does not pass by too quickly!”
2. “My first year of college was an adventure. Being part of student leadership group, I found many friends who carry the same dreams. Leadership expands my minds and horizon.”
3. “During my first year at Pomona College, I found my community with the Women’s Union and Kasama, an organization for Filipinx students. The Women’s Union has important discussions concerning the intersections of race and gender that don’t normally happen elsewhere on campus, which has made this space one of the highlights of my college experience so far. I’m hoping to work there for the rest of my college career, and to connect with more inspiring people. I explored and decided to focus my studies on Studio Art and Asian American Studies during my college career.”
4. “I have settled on a computer science and theater double major. Theater gives me the ability to express myself artistically and creatively, while computer science allows me to exercise my problem solving skills. I appreciate everything the Golden Grads have done to help me follow my passions.”