Tutoring with the Blind in New York

This summer, I received a wonderful opportunity to tutor a blind person at a library in New York, preparing her for the science section of her GED test. She had already passed all the other subjects except science, so there was a lot of pressure on me to help her clear this last challenge.

I had never done anything like this. Although I did have some experience playing showdown with the blind before, teaching seemed like a whole new different thing. I was nervous at first and consistently questioned my knowledge of science and how I was going to explain something as visual as a graph. 

However, week after week, all that nervousness turned into fun. I would close my eyes and try to fit myself into a blind person's shoe. Through this practice, I gained more confidence in how I should teach my blind patient. I began to take pleasure in explaining science in creative ways, translating concepts into vivid descriptions that she could picture. The more I taught, the more I realized how much joy I derived from sharing knowledge.

We didn't just learn; we connected. We laughed, told stories, and gained more knowledge of each other. She amazed me with her determination, and I grew more confident in my ability to instruct.

Ultimately, this was a truly rewarding experience where I not only had the privilege of tutoring a visually impaired person but also built a meaningful connection that will be remembered forever. I am super fulfilled and excited to continue this experience forward.