girlpower
Reaching out, one student at a time
CHS senior launches tutoring program
By JENNIFER CHAPMAN
jchapman@northsidewoman.com
Fan Fan got involved with the startup of Chattahoochee’s High School Tutoring
Club last fall, but something about it wasn’t right for her. She wanted to make it
better. SPECIAL/www.northsidewoman.com
So earlier this year, she started the non-profit, 121 Reach, a tutoring organization
that partners high school students with middle schoolers.
“Tutors are expensive,” said Fan, a rising senior. “I realized that there are a lot of
kids who need help but there’s a chance their parents can’t afford it.”
Fan began putting 121 Reach together by connecting Chattahoochee High
School students with neighboring Taylor Road Middle School students. The CHS students
tutor the TRMS students – for free.
Chattahoochee High School student tutors and Taylor Road Middle School tutees
gather at the end of the year party for 121 Reach.
Fan said she’s always loved helping children, so starting 121 Reach was natural
progression. common interests as well.
“I really love learning and I understand that education is important,” she said. “I’m “It’s easier for them to interact as well,” she said. “At first, some of the tutors and
kind of unique when it comes to working with other kids.” tutees were nervous, but after a tutoring session, they clicked and afterward began
Fan said the name, 121 Reach, means one high schooler to one middle schooler. talking about subjects not related to school.”
“Reach’ comes from (the high schoolers) reaching out to middle schoolers and at the Tutors and tutees exchange phone numbers and e-mails, just in case a question
same time they are also arises during homework duties or while preparing for a test; it’s something that Fan said
reaching for their goals,” only helps build the bond between the two students.
said Fan. “We want to Fan’s goal for her senior year is to spread the program, hoping to replicate it at
reach as many kids as other local schools.
possible.” “Starting this organization has changed me,” said Fan. “I’ve seen many things that
Fan said the tutoring I never would’ve seen otherwise.”
program is different from Fan’s mother, Jinghong, said she is proud of her daughter.
a traditional tutoring “I’m really proud of this model,” she said. “With the idea that if it’s at every high
curriculum. school, it can become a movement.”
“It kind of makes us a Fan, a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Spanish
Fan Fan, second from left, is pictured with adult sponsors
little different,” said Fan. Club, said 121 Reach taught her leadership on a whole new level.
of 121 Reach. Pictured are Dale Folkins, Karen White and
“It’s a kids-to-kids program. “Motivating others didn’t occur to me until 121 Reach,” she said. “Cooperating
Deborah Sheppard.
The high schoolers can and working with others – that was really amazing. I learned so much about human
relate to the middle schoolers since they’re not too much older.” relationships. There’s only finite time and this brings people together.”
Fan said the high schoolers have a vested interest in the program, hoping to set a One of the biggest challenges, said Fan, is motivating the tutors and tutees.
positive example for the middle schoolers and lead them in the right direction. “We’ll give small treats to the tutors and we’ve had an end-of-the-year party,
So far, there are 40 tutors and 32 tutees that meet on Thursday nights in the TRMS too,” she said.
media center. But the program – and relationships that are built – doesn’t stop there. Fan also said she is going to try to hold fundraisers for the non-profit, to help finance
Tutors cover a range of subjects and when tutees sign up for the program, they field trips and retreats for the students next year.
can specify what areas in which they need help. Fan said tutors and tutees are Tutors and tutees can sign up on the organization’s Web site, http://121reach.org/
matched based on what subjects are in need of help and the tutors and tutees index.htm.
12 | northsidewoman.com | july09
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