Moving Forward: Giving a Helping Hand

Jasmine Lee ’19 always had a passion for helping others. She never knew working with children would help her on her journey to becoming a nurse.

While majoring in nursing she has become a senior tutor for Adelphi’s Center for Career and Professional Development America Reads Program. She tutors first and second graders in reading and writing. Currently, she is mentoring other Adelphi tutors in the program.

Through the America Reads program, she finds helping children is similar to helping patients. Being honest and having constant communication makes the job easier to do if it ever gets challenging.

“I’m learning how to cater to each person’s individual needs and knowing each of their strengths and weaknesses is a useful skill as a nurse,” she said.

The America Reads/America Counts program is a national program that began in 1996 by the Clinton Administration as part of a national literacy campaign. Since then, over 1 million tutors have volunteered to help students catch up and get ahead in the areas of reading and math. Tutors provide individual, small group & class instruction to students ranging from kindergarten to 9^th grade.

“We have tutors across disciplines who tutor area elementary and middle school students,” said associate director of experiential learning Bernadine Waller, LMHC, PhD Candidate. “The one thing all tutors have in common is their love of children. Some of our former tutors are working in medicine, psychology, social work, accounting, and education. It’s a wonderful way to get experience working with a population or providing community service.”

Even though she wants to be a nurse many people question why she would tutor instead of doing something else directly related to the nursing profession. “For me, it’s more than just becoming an America Reads tutor because with this role…I can relate my experience to nursing whether it’s aspects of community, health or pediatrics,” Lee said.

Becoming a tutor has taught her more about herself than what she knew before. “I am grateful for being a tutor for America Reads ever since my sophomore year and I have no regrets because it has been a great part of my journey as a competent nurse.”

In addition to her studies, she is a member of the psychology club and Adelphi Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. She has also been elected as the treasurer junior representative for Adelphi’s Student Nurses Association.

Students interested in participating in the America Reads program should complete an application on Handshake.