You can do it
Senior empowers underprivileged students with mentoring program
Charlotte Holman, sophomore, listens as another mentor explains a math concept. Mentors tutor in subjects ranging from math, science, writing and reading.
Q: Why did you decide to start the Kids of Tomorrow?
A: Pretty much what’s made [Plant students] successful is the fact that our parents encouraged us to learn at an young age. Plant kids weren’t necessarily smarter than any other school in the area, it’s just the fact we had a better upbringing and our parents encouraged us to read and be educated at a young age. We have good learning structures and we have good teachers but a lot of places don’t have that. [The kids I tutor] have cultures that don’ t necessarily emphasize that learning and knowledge is the way to success; its kinda the opposite. We were very lucky to have that mind frame that learning is good and a lot of places don’t have that which inspired me to start this up. So, I said I want to instead of giving money to charity for some thirty-year-old to tutor them, why don’t I get kids my age who are seven years older than these kids to go tutor them so they know what they can do with their life.
Noah Blackman, senior, offers two students clementine slices. Though, Blackman specifically tutors two children, he makes sure to connect and talk with all children in the program.
Q: How did you get this program started?
A: So I asked all these organizations, I went around Tampa said “Hi, I’m Noah Blackman. I’d like to create teen mentorship, tutoring program and I’d like to come to your location.” I went to the YMCA, to the Prep, and I went to some schools in Hillsborough County and they all pretty much turned me down. A place called St. Peter Calver School in Ybor City accepted me and I go there.
Q: How do you keep the program going smoothly?
A: I manage the program by diluting power to people. Like Jack Schifino helps me out a lot, Richard and Mackenna help me out a lot and Hannah Diasti was a huge help in this.
Chatting with some of the students before tutoring begins, Jack Schifino, junior, learns about students’ interests. Next year, Schifino will be Noah Blackman’s successor.
Q: What does a normal tutoring day look like?
A: We go in every Monday and we tutor them for about an hour and a half, and then we either play games or we go outside and play sports and I think this makes my [tutoring program] different than others is the fact that the kids bond with us so they’re happier with us than they would be with like I said earlier, a thirty year old who they barely know. Most of the time I help them with their homework which is ELA so language arts, sciences and maths.
Q: What is your greatest takeaway from this mentorship
program?
A: Everyone has potential. I was very judgmental of people who I essentially thought were stupid. It was eye-opening to me that situations and context really do mean a lot in a kids development, and that was pretty much the biggest thing I learned that these kids they do want to strive but its later in life teachers adults and other kids put them down and we should emphasize that they should develop.
Q: What is the ultimate goal of Kids of Tomorrow?
Laughing as they work on a writing assigment, Hannah Diasti, senior, guides a student in writing about her weekend. Diasti has been a part in managing the Kids of Tomorrow program since its start.
A: They should be empowered. I really want these kids to feel they have the knowledge and ability to do what they want to do with their lives.
Q: What is the future of Kids of Tomorrow?
A: Honestly, I’m very happy to know this will go on for many years. Jack Schifino’s gonna take over after me and I really do like seeing the kids being happy. I’ve already talked to community service organizations in the D.C. area and in the Seattle area about maybe expansion or just other ways they can help me with my school and ways I can help them with their schools.