CULTURAL COMPETENCY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Tutoring and Cultural Competency

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Description:

In the beginning of my graduate studies, I sought work at Seattle Central College in order to further be immersed in the community and to give more of myself in a community I would be living in  for 15 months.  I have worked at Seattle Central as a Writing Tutor since October 2017 and is a place where I learned cultural competency outside of school.

Analysis: Seattle Central has an extremely diverse student body, with a high percentage of refugee populations attending. The amount of insight I was able to gain from tutoring students here drove my decision making within my assignments at school. I learned cultural sensitivity strategies and about new demographics I had not had experience working with in the past.

Reflection:  

Being immersed in any community I live in, is important to me. I believe that I should give something to community even if I am a student and will be there for a short period of time. In addition to tutoring writing, I often was able to give advice about 4-year universities and shared some of my struggles a student to help them. Being a culturally responsive educator is essential to who I am, and I am intentional about building this skill set while also making sure not to be extractive in the process. Working at Seattle Central College was a needed pairing for my graduate studies.