Last fall, I decided to go back to school. I had been out of school for about 10 years and was tired of shuffling from job to job, awful pay for way too many hours worked, and frankly, I needed something in my life to be consistent. I had two jobs at one point and was so burnt out from working that I had absolutely no social life. Let's just say, I was looking forward to my healthcare classes at the university. I was going to do my best to make a fresh start and use my GI benefits to get an education if it killed me...well I hope it wouldn't. And then I thought to myself "with me going back to school, there were much better odds for dating and relationships...or just sex again." I would soon find out that there are many more opportunities at college than at the local dives and bars I frequented just trying to hook up with anyone with similar interests.
Fast forward a few weeks and I am doing extremely well in school and one day my professor, Dr. Phillips approaches me right before my second big anatomy exam and asks me to stay after class for a few minutes. So I walk up to her at the end of anatomy lecture and politely ask "...um Dr. Phillips, what did you need to see me about?
Instantly, as the last student besides me shuffled out, she turns to me and gets very casual and tells me to call her Donna.
"Ok, then Donna it is." Then I ask her again... "So what did you want me to stay after class for today?"
"Well, it seems like you are doing very well in my class and I am in desperate need of a few tutors to help some of the other students make the grade. I was wondering if you would consider being a tutor?"
I have to tell you, she really caught me off guard with that question and she knew I was floored by my response.
"If you sign up for it and do a little paperwork at the Success Center, I will endorse you and they will even pay you decently for your service to the college."
"Can I think about it over the weekend and get back to you with an answer?"
"Sure, not a problem...just let me know sometime next week." "It has other perks too as you will find out..." she smirked at me and I think she even winked subtly and then she thanked me for staying after class and then she quickly hustled out of the lecture hall and headed to her next class.
"Hmm, I thought...what other perks might be she be talking about." So, as my curiosity got the best of me, I walked right over to the Success Center and signed up to be a tutor and by the end of the afternoon, I had all my paperwork done, signed, and I was now going to be called on for tutoring.
Monday morning came fast and I was back in lecture again taking notes and surveying the class and wondered who would need my help. It didn't take too long to find out my answer. At the end of class, Professor Phillips...aka Donna handed our tests back and I was excited to see a 98 on my paper...I was stoked as this was my second high "A" in the class. But then reality set in for the rest of the course as she spouted out the class average...a dismal 76.7 and then she rambled off some general test statistics. I was only one of three in the class with that golden "A" grade. The majority of the class barely made w B's and some, well let's just say were far worse... Let's face it, anatomy and physiology isn't easy and it weeds people out like an active gardener.
As I looked to my left, I noticed an attractive young black woman who was looking at her grade and holding her head and she looked very frustrated and worried. I wondered how many in the class were feeling like her right now about this class, the workload, and the exams. A few minutes later, again to my surprise...I was called out by Donna.
"If your grades are not where they need to be, tutoring services are available in the Success Center and all you have to do is walk in and tell them you need the help of a tutor and they will make it happen. It is that simple people." And as a plus, one of our own in this class just made his services available for tutoring. She looked to me and said "Nate could you introduce yourself?
So, after a quick 30 second interview in front of the class...I sat back down and wondered who I would tutor first. I began packing up my things and as I stood up to leave, right there in front of me stood that young attractive and did I mention tall black student.
"Hi...um Nate" "I'm Aisha and I could use your tutoring services if you are free later or tomorrow."
"Nice to meet you Aisha" I have class in an hour so today doesn't work, but tomorrow I have only one morning class and then I am free the rest of the day."
Aisha smiled and said 'that is great!" "Hey, I am headed to the Success Center now to sign up like she said. Would you want to grab some lunch at the café and talk until you have your next class?
"Sure" just naturally rolled off my tongue and off I went with her.
After a few minutes of paperwork, she was set and she requested me to tutor her as I was in her class. That made things really easy for the aide setting up the tutoring session. I was slated to tutor Aisha at 1000 AM tomorrow and then they asked if I was available for any other slots for another student, but I declined and said, let me start with one for now. I told the aide, 'I am not saying, no, I just want to know what it will be like on my schedule." So, unfortunately, a student named Matt would have to wait for now. I did like when the aide mentioned that the college would compensate me at the rate of $13.50 an hour to provide the tutoring service. "Excellent I thought to myself!"
Aisha and I grabbed some sandwiched and sodas for lunch and before I knew it, we were talking like old friends about our life, interests, school, our studies, and we hit it off very good. When she started telling me more about her personal life, I knew things were going good and I got very interested in her.
Aisha explained her sad story to me. "I have had a few dates here and there, but nothing major...I have just been too busy with my hectic life and with work and school, it was too much really think about it." Then she posed the question to me "How about you?" I told her that her story sounded so similar to mine. I told her I was going back to school to escape the inconsistent and crazy life I was leading and going nowhere. I too had very little social time, but I was hoping that school would change that soon. I was just getting really into a good talk with this pretty lady and then my alarm went off for class. I quickly explained my alarm to her to keep me straight...and that I had it set up so I would get to class fifteen minutes early to be ready.
I took out a piece of paper and wrote down my number and gave her my phone and email. Then told her, "If you get stuck before our tutoring session, just text me or email me your questions and I will try my best to help you." Is that ok?
She smiled at me and took my details and slipped the piece of paper into her tiny black purse, then she got up and I have say, she was nearly as tall as me and she offered her hand and said "thank you Nate." I immediately noticed that her hands were very soft and that she had some very long and nicely done nails.
"You have very soft hands and some pretty nails." She sort of blushed and took the compliment to heart. Then I said a quick goodbye and headed off to class.