As a first grader walks to lunch, they notice a fellow student out in the hall with someone they haven’t seen before. They seem to be reading together, with the peer attempting to sound out words and read sentences. The first grader wonders; who is this, and what’s going on?
The person is a high school student, and they were sent there as a tutor as part of the A+ program.
What is A+?
A+ is a program offered by Missouri high schools that helps with and looks good on a college resume. If you’d really like to head off to college and pursue your diploma of your choice, but are unable to fund the expenses, A+ will actually pay for tuition and fees for the first two years at any college that participates in the program.
Besides being helpful for college, it also helps you become connected with the local community, allowing you chances to be a tutor for children, and gain community service hours that count towards the high school graduation requirement.
In order to graduate from NKC Schools, you have to have at least 20 hours of community service. If you join A+, it will automatically cover that. Although it has an increase and requires at least 50 tutoring hours, it still remains as an easier way to easily find various ways to help out in the local community.
How do students feel about the work?
No matter the scenario, everyone is going to have a variety of emotions at play. More often than not, people will mainly feel a sense of compassion, especially if they enjoy doing the work the job may require of them. Children can definitely be a handful at times, regardless of age, but some people said they won’t mind the shenanigans or situations they go through, especially if they’re considering going into the education field.
“I went and helped tutored the kids at Gashland,” said Class of 2016 graduate Christopher Thomson. “It was cool helping kids because I wanted to be a teacher.”
Though, not everyone has a particular interest in the education field. There are people who just enjoy helping out with the people around them.
“I honestly enjoy helping people out,” says junior Dani Rose. “For me, it makes me feel smarter, and feel good when I’m helping others.”
Is A+ worth it?
With every school-based activity or program, there is the question of if it’s really worth it; if it’ll really matter down the road.
A+ is one of those programs that will definitely leave an everlasting effect on you. It can help increase your communication skills, become more aware of the people and issues around you, and is beneficial towards succeeding in college.
“Students and student loans don’t mesh very well,” says A+ coordinator Missi Gegen. “Especially since they’re not feasible for 50 percent of people. However, A+ helps students pay and obtain an Associate’s degree; there’s not much reason to not sign up.”
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