(FLOC welcomes new staff each summer. In this miniseries, we are recognizing our summer associates and interns by publishing blog posts about their experiences. Jessica Briatico is the Lead Site Coordinator for the Summer Math Program.)
A year and a half ago, Jessica Briatico began tutoring at FLOC as a work study student. Currently, she’s a summer associate for the Summer Math Academy.
Jess, a rising junior at the George Washington University, is getting the opportunity to see how FLOC operates from a staff perspective.
“When I was a tutor, I had no idea how much work went into enrollment,” Jessica said. This experience focuses on how FLOC works “instead of the hands-on tutor-to-student interaction. It’s a lot more in-depth and it really makes me appreciate what we do here more.”
As a tutor, she dedicated herself to helping one student at a time. Now, Jessica’s taking into account the many moving parts of the FLOC programs. “It’s interesting to see where all the pieces are missing…how students progress, the mentor aspect of [our programs], and how everything falls into place,” she said.
This summer, Jessica has gained much experience using software like Microsoft Excel. She also attributes her growth as a team player to her summer position, particularly because a great deal of running these programs requires much “behind-the-scenes” teamwork.
Jess, a psychology major, is enthusiastic about seeing how “FLOC helps to provide the support and individual attention that’s not possible to provide in a classroom setting. A lot of our students are struggling in school for a lot of reasons, and they come in to the program with low self esteem about their abilities and not really engaged in the learning process.”
Even after a long day at the computer, she looks forward to seeing all the students work and play with their tutors. “There’s a sense of purpose here that I haven’t found in any other environment.” Though her plans after college aren’t set yet, she hopes to continue working with children.
