Sitting at my desk frustrated, I couldn’t think of any ways to improve my essay. Then, I remembered that I had a unique resource at my figure tips: writing center. I have learned that it is important to take advantage of the academic support that CESJDS provides because the teachers are there to help you with your work.
Having to figure out ideas for writing assignments, and solve problems for math can often be daunting. Whenever I go to either math lab or writing center, I know that the teachers there will be willing to help me work through my assignment, whether it be a math problem or an essay.
Both the writing center and math lab have been around for over 30 years, with the range of people in each one per day fluctuating from about five students to as many as 30.
Teachers from the math and English departments have a system of how they split up the days they are in writing center and math lab. Additional teachers, like those from the history department, will come to the centers when they know their students have a big assignment or test coming up so they can provide additional assistance.
Many English and math teachers spend their lunch times going to writing center and math lab in order to make themselves available for students. However, there is no point in them giving up their time if students don’t take that opportunity to get help.
I suggest that JDS students take advantage of these unique environments, as it can help alleviate their academic stresses and is a convenient solution. The teachers dedicate their break time to helping us therefore we should utilize the academic support
Since JDS is a relatively small school, students have the additional advantage of getting to know their teachers on a more personal level. Students can build deeper connections with teachers, making it easier for teachers to understand their students’ challenges.
A large number of public schools in the area do not have math labs or writing centers, and even if they do, they are led by peer tutors. While it can be nice to have other students look over your work, they often have less experience and do not know exactly what the teacher is looking for in the assignment. Having teachers who know the curriculum can be more beneficial.
Even if public schools were to have the same academic support system as JDS, the schools are much larger. Therefore, it’s harder for teachers to form as many personal relationships with students, so it is harder for them to understand the specific person and the kind of help they need.
However, at JDS teachers work closely with others in their department, and are usually somewhat familiar with the curriculum of other teachers in their department. Even if you are not working with your own teacher, they will still be able to help you because they know the type of project or assignment you are doing.
JDS students are so lucky that they have access to these amazing tools, and utilizing them is extremely beneficial. It is so rewarding to know that you took initiative to get the help you need, and we are lucky to have teachers willing to help their students with this.
