Zahra’s Final Word
Funny enough, I can vividly recount my first experience with Teens Tutor Teens; looking for volunteer opportunities in middle of summer vacation and stumbling on the Teens Tutor Teens instagram account. With a single inquiry to the account, I was met with an eager team who wanted to onboard me as soon as they could. Little did I know that Teens Tutor Teens would be more than just a “tutoring” organization: it would be a learning experience inspiring reflection, whether it be through wondering if certain partnerships would be worth the effort or inevitably learning how to work with different leadership styles.
Joining the Georgia Chapter, I quickly moved up the ranks from tutor to President in less than a year, where I worked to grow the Georgia Chapter, broaden tutor recruitment efforts to different counties, and establish stable international partnerships such as Raising a Scholar, which allowed us to work with students in Zambia who never had access to formal schooling. I even got to work with a chapter head to get us an in-person booth at the GCPS Student Voice Summit in 2023, an event which served a crucial role in diversifying our tutor population in Teens Tutor Teens across grade levels.
Beyond partnerships, Teens Tutor Teens gave me the opportunity to explore mental health in the education system through the Mind over Matter Program, where I got to work with a team to contribute to the review of mental health and diversity curriculum for BCPS, one of the largest school systems in the US. I also got to serve as a leader for the Diversity and Inclusion Workshops in 2021, where Jane Elliot served as a guest speaker for our final culminating workshop. These experiences served as reminders that beyond providing equal education access, Teens Tutor Teens served to be a proponent of equity in all aspects of the education system.
Moving to a national executive position of Chief Operating Officer after, I had the amazing opportunity to co-host a TEDx event with TTT alumni dedicated to the initiative of mobilizing our youth. Through overseeing marketing, legalities, and serving as a co-emcee for the event, I got to be a part of event programming from start to finish.
There are a lot of opportunities that I had in Teens Tutor Teens that I could ramble about for paragraphs. However, the thing I will cherish the most is the camaraderie developed in my leading team, whether it be the long workshops where Gabby talked about her life as a college student, or the lifelong friendships that have blossomed in my life as a direct result of my involvement in TTT.
The bonds I have formed as a result of experiences in this organization are unbreakable.
