Tutoring with empathy
Moving someplace new can cause a lot of anxiety. Enrolling in a new school, meeting new people and finding a support system can be difficult and scary for students and families.
Macarena Amunategui, a tutor with EQPD and a double major in criminology and secondary math education at Florida International University, knows just how scary that can be. After spending years in Argentina as a Chilean-American, she faced academic challenges upon returning to the U.S., and finding the right support system wasn’t easy. However, these struggles and her own experiences with tutoring programs played a key role in shaping her passion for teaching and tutoring.
Since joining EQPD, Amunategui has worked with five students as a mentor and a delta math tutor. She says that tutoring has helped grow her love for teaching, and it’s been a way to increase her tolerance and patience. One of her favorite moments with students is watching them finally understand what they are learning, saying it’s among the most rewarding feelings.
Being a fluent Spanish speaker, Amunategui was contacted by EQPD when they were searching for a tutor and mentor for two Spanish-speaking students. She says helping them with their transition after moving back to the states and explaining challenging concepts to them was extremely rewarding.
“These two students understand very little English, and the American education system works differently than where they lived before. I was able to explain how it worked in a way they could understand,” Amunategui said. “I feel like I can relate to them because I went through a similar experience with moving and finding help. These students remind me why I do what I do.”
Amunategui says her role as a mentor and tutor is to give young students the resources to succeed, and she encourages them to take every advantage they can and give their maximum effort. She tells her students to always keep trying, and that they are just as smart as everyone else and capable of building their future.
Amunategui’s journey highlights the power of perseverance and the impact of a dedicated mentor. Her own struggles have shaped her into a compassionate and effective tutor, helping students navigate academic challenges with confidence. Through her work at EQPD, she continues to inspire and support students, proving that with the right guidance, they can overcome any obstacle.
