Student Spotlight – Boyana M.

Tutoring is fundamentally about relationships. As a Math Motivators program coordinator, getting to know the students and tutors I work with is one of the things I enjoy most. It is so satisfying to witness that slightly nervous first-time meeting between tutor and student at the beginning of a new school year develop into a fruitful working relationship.

When I was asked to write a blog post on a student in my program, my thoughts immediately went to Boyana. She is a 15-year-old sophomore in her second year of Math Motivators tutoring. She is a bright and motivated student, and it is a joy to work with her. Before joining Math Motivators, Boyana thought math was complicated and difficult to understand. A year and several months of tutoring later, however, both her confidence and understanding have dramatically increased.

In addition to in-person tutoring freshman year, Boyana participated in our pilot virtual tutoring program this past summer, and she has continued to participate in our 2020–21 virtual tutoring program this academic year. She elected to continue tutoring with Math Motivators during the first semester of this school year, despite not having a math course on her schedule until second semester. Boyana has worked with a few different tutors during her time with Math Motivators, and she says she has liked them all. She says that they were all helpful, patient, and understanding. Boyana went on to say that she appreciates the extra practice that Math Motivators tutoring provides her and that being able to ask tutors questions while working on problems is incredibly helpful.

Boyana plans to attend college and study biology/pre-med. She would like to become a specialist and work in a hospital, and she is currently leaning toward specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.

It is an honor to get to know the students in our program and incredibly meaningful to help them to be successful in math. Boyana is a wonderful example of the many students we have the opportunity and privilege to work with here in Portland. Now, more than ever, our support matters. Learn more by visiting our Math Motivators webpage.