Toni Chanakas · A New Years Resolution: Become a Seeds of Literacy Tutor

January 24th, 2009

I am a little late for New Year resolutions; and this happens to be my first 2009 post. So Happy Belated New Year!

I have shared my experiences and challenges in obtaining a new position in the creative/ marketing arena during the past year. The concept that has resonated throughout my posts is keeping busy and getting out of the house. The best way to do that is become a volunteer. As a volunteer, you can stress to an employer your commitment to an organization plus keeping structure throughout your day while looking for your dream job.

I volunteer for “Seeds of Literacy” as a tutor for learners in obtaining their GED’s. Seeds of Literacy, “We are an adult literacy program providing basic education and GED preparation free of charge to people in the Cleveland, Ohio area.” My tutoring experience has given me so much satisfaction in helping learners obtain their goal. It also gives me the opportunity to pass on my passion for reading and writing to others who can benefit from my experiences and knowledge.

There are days when I walk into Seeds and I receive a welcome that consists of, “Hey, do you want to help someone with Fractions?” Math is not my strong suit but I will help in any way that I can. There are times when the student teaches the tutor. I think it is a healthy situation when the student can relate to the tutor and feel comfortable in exchanging ideas and concepts which will in turn help them learn faster.

I cannot stress enough what a rewarding experience it is to provide help in the literacy crisis we have in our nation. If I can just help one individual in acquiring their GED to hopefully get a better job. Or even better, giving students the confidence in thinking about attending college and get an even better job.

If you are in career transition and you want to help a worthwhile cause, go to http://www.seedsofliteracy.org/ or call 216.661.7950 for more information.

Last 5 posts by Toni Chanakas

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