Thanks to the commitment and careful guidance of volunteers across the country, Pathways students continue to be connected with the individualized learning supports they need to graduate from high school.
Today, we shine a spotlight on one volunteer who has been part of Pathways Saint John since the program location opened in 2016. “Eric Peterson started volunteering our very first year,” shares Program Director Heather Doyle. “He is a consistent, patient, and effective tutor, and a strong advocate of the Pathways Program.”
Over the past eight years, Eric has worked with youth to build their understanding of core concepts in math and science. But he’s always ready to assist with any subject. As Eric believes, no matter your area of expertise, the most important impact a Pathways volunteer has on a young person’s learning experience is teaching them how to approach a challenge and figuring out how to solve it together. And once this key skill has been unlocked, it opens up a world of learning for further success in school.
As a mechanical engineer, Eric’s held a lifelong passion for math and science. In 2016, he heard about the opportunity to tutor students at the new Pathways Program location in Saint John from a coworker, and felt it was the perfect place to contribute his skills. “Pathways sounded just right up my alley,” Eric reminisces. “Being able to share knowledge and work with students is fun, but it’s also really rewarding. When you hear students say, ‘I went up from a 70 to an 85’, you know that you’re making a difference.”
Reflecting on his experience over the past eight years, Eric has noticed that having dedicated tutoring supports can help youth bridge gaps that might be missed in a larger classroom. “There’s no way to press pause as a student when you’re loaded with other priorities. If you don’t happen to understand it when it’s being taught or if you miss a week of school, there’s not much you can do other than struggle later. Sometimes fundamental concepts are missing, which prevents students from doing a better job in their homework. I find that one-on-one tutoring fixes that. Because I have not run into a single student who isn’t smart enough, capable enough, or interested enough to understand it.”
And once students establish a strong foundation, that’s when they really start to excel. Eric’s favourite memories volunteering are the light bulb moments when youth are able to apply newfound skills to start succeeding in other areas. “If you’re struggling in a subject, you’re not going to enjoy yourself in school. When suddenly everything a student has been working on clicks, that unlocks their ability to go further and do better in all their classes,” Eric shares. “Once the student can see that opening in the road, then it’s not going to be just about completing that one assignment. Now they can concentrate on the harder stuff and study more.”
Eric’s commitment to supporting students over the years underscores the importance of dedicated one-on-one supports. “A tutor can give them a new way of looking at a concept by sharing experiences,” he emphasizes. Volunteering at Pathways has also enriched Eric’s own continuous learning. “The students are always teaching me new perspectives. Hearing points of view from a different generation or someone from a different part of the world makes for really interesting conversations.”
For Eric, volunteering at Pathways Saint John is not just about teaching math and science; it’s about fostering a way of thinking and approach to problem-solving that students can carry with them throughout their lives. And as he continues to inspire young learners, Eric knows that each student he helps is building a better future for his community. “Some of the students are living in very different circumstances than we would hope them to have,” Eric explains. “Every day that we are helping these students get a passing grade in high school should have generational benefits. By making sure that everyone has a chance to graduate and go on to post-secondary education or build a career, we can break the poverty cycle.”