Tutoring underprivileged students from the Metro Detroit area put into perspective how much I was taking my education at Deerfield for granted. Students at Deerfield have access to pretty much any and every resource while my tutee’s face overcrowded and underfunded classrooms. And textbooks? There was no chance of them simply running out and buying a random thick, dusty tome just for one lesson. Despite these obstacles, we made our lessons work, and that was in no small part due to the students’ hard work. They never missed a homework assignment or a lesson. They were willing to give their all to get a shot at a better education and therefore a better life.
On a personal level, it was a jarring wake-up call. Up until now, I’d only heard of these struggles through a television screen and internet news reports, but for the first time in my life, I was actually working with students who dealt with these hardships everyday.
Thanks again to the Workman family and the CSCG for all your help! I’ve learned so much along the way.
-Mary Lee ’23
