How one student turned failing a test into passing the class—and finding hope again.
One of my acquaintances called me up.
“Hey, you tutor math, right?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” I replied.
“My son just failed his last test and is ready to quit his statistics class. Can you help?”
“Well, Stats is not my specialty,” I said, “but I can see if I can help out.”
As I looked at him across the table at Dunkin’ Donuts, he seemed ready to collapse. The class almost didn’t matter anymore. But here he was, sitting in front of me, and he was willing to give it one last try.
“Tell me what you need to cover for your final exam,” I asked.
He began to explain the material, step by step. I asked him for references from his notes and reasons behind his answers. And slowly, he started to warm up.
“Wow,” I said as the hour ended. “You know a lot.”
His face lit up. He was feeling much more confident.
We met once more after that. As we hammered out the details, what he knew and what he didn’t, we referred back to the materials, rephrased notes in our own words, and worked through each question one by one.
He didn’t say much after that second session, but his simple “thank you” was all I needed to hear.
From just those two meetings, he went back to being a kid with answers—and hope.
He believed in himself again.
Even now, thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.
Sometimes, that’s all it takes: someone sitting beside you, showing you that it’s going to be okay. That everything is going to be alright.
His dad later let me know that he passed the class. To me, it felt like he had won a gold medal that day. Because he won back something far more important than a grade—he won back his confidence.
I wanted to share this story with you in case you’re feeling unsure or struggling. It’s not too late. You can do it. Don’t give up. Sit down with someone who will help you take it one step at a time, until you reach your own gold medal.
I believe in you.
Looking for more?
If you’re wondering how to tell if a tutor is the right fit for your child, we’ve shared some helpful tips here.
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The Power of a Different Explanation: How One Student Learned to Love Math
