The MATCH Corps is our innovative, one-of-a-kind residential tutoring program that provides more than 300 hours of tutoring yearly to each student in our school. For more information, click here, or read an interview with a current MATCH Corps Tutor below.
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Straight From the Corps |
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Pamela Tieu
Dartmouth College '08
Biology
High School MATCH Corps 2008-09 |
What is your background?
A New Yorker at heart, I am originally from Brooklyn, NY. I went to Dartmouth College, which was a huge change for me considering that it is in rural New Hampshire. I graduated with a major in Biology and a minor in Chinese in 2008.
How did you first hear about the MATCH Corps?
I heard about MATCH from Mr. Miranda, the principal of the school, at a recruiting fair at Dartmouth. His enthusiasm for the program stood out and made me really curious about the program. (To my pleasant surprise later on, I found out that he was a Dartmouth alumnus.)
What made you decide to join the MATCH Corps?
Going into my senior year of college, I knew I wanted to do something in teaching or community service after graduation. I looked into various programs, such as City Year Boston and Teach for America, in addition to the MATCH Corps. The MATCH Corps quickly became my first choice because it offered a lot that the others didn’t have. I loved the fact that I could work with students one-on-one or one-on-two; I would have the opportunity to give them personalized attention without dealing with classroom management. I wanted to work with a population of students I had never really worked with before (as I had only been a teaching assistant and tutor for college students). I was also extremely impressed with the community feel of the school, especially on my interview day.
Can you describe your typical day?
I wake up at about 7 AM to get ready for the day ahead, which includes some more prepping for my morning tutorial. I am usually downstairs well before 8:30 am so I can greet students in the hallways. For first period, I tutor two sophomores in algebra II. I am the Biology TA so, during second period, I start grading all of the sophomores’ biology homework due that day. As the teaching assistant for the sophomore biology course, I also sit in on the third period biology class while continuing my grading. At 11:30 am, I eat a quick lunch and prep more for my other tutorials. I meet again with my sophomores for fourth period at 12:04 pm and discuss novels or plays for their English class. At 1:04 pm, I meet with my two delightful juniors and tutor them in AP US History. We often read primary documents in addition to working on essay-writing skills. From 2 pm to 3 pm, I prep for my freshman tutorial (the last two periods of the day). I work with two lively students from 3:04 pm to 5 pm on physics, fiction, non-fiction, and algebra. From 5:12 pm to 7:15 pm, I work in homework lab to help students who stay afterschool. I primarily interact with sophomores who need help with biology, but I basically help any student with any subject that I can explain. These students tend to be highly motivated, since many choose to stay at MATCH for extra help from tutors.
What is the hardest part of your day?
It really depends. Because my students will struggle more on certain topics than others, tutorials and days vary in difficulty. If my student is having a rough day, then that tutorial will be more difficult in terms of motivating him or her to do the work.
What do you find most rewarding about MATCH Corps?
I find that the relationships I’ve built at MATCH are the most rewarding. I love working with my students and seeing them understand concepts, especially after lots of effort on both our parts! I also love talking with them about things outside of school, like their favorite video game or song. In addition, everyone who works at MATCH has always been amazingly supportive of each other. I could not have asked for a better set of Corps members and teachers as my coworkers. I also feel that the Corps director, Ms. Smith, does an awesome job of touching base with each of us to make sure things are going well.
Can you describe the atmosphere of the school?
The MATCH culture is one of “tough love.” We love our students (!) and it is amazing how hard every staff member works to help them. The staff members pretty much know every student by name, and we are always friendly, encouraging faces in the school. At the same time, we expect a lot from our students because we know that they are capable of the workload. We have a Code of Conduct and a system of demerits, which may sound strict to students in other schools; however, this allows us to focus more on the big picture (preparing our students for success in college and beyond).
What has been the biggest struggle you've faced this year?
For me, I have always struggled with finding a balance between my work and personal life. There is always something more that I can do for my students, whether it’s helping them over the phone with their Algebra II homework or making more tutorial materials for my freshman girls. Sometimes I find it difficult to make sure that I have some time to myself, especially during the weekdays.
How would you characterize the student body?
It’s hard to generalize the students here, because each one has such a unique personality and I cannot justify lumping them all together! However, I think that most (if not all) students want to do well, even if they say otherwise. Some will tend to complain frequently, but I suspect that in many cases it is because they are intimidated by the material.
What are your plans for next year?
I plan to enter medical school next year, but I’ve fiddled with the idea of staying on for an extra year because of the relationships I’ve developed with the students.
How has/does MATCH Corps prepare you for your future plans?
I feel that this experience at MATCH would prepare any Corps member for his or her future plans, no matter what those might be. For me, I know that the teaching skills I’ve acquired here would prepare me well for a career as an attending physician. Eventually, I plan to work with medical students and residents as a mentor and instructor. I also know that I want to work with a diverse set of patients, and working with MATCH students has allowed me to be aware of issues relevant to specific populations. By collaborating with all the other staff members here and improving my communication skills, I know that I would be able to work as a team with my colleagues in the future. In general, I believe that I’ve grown so much as a person working with young teens, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to work at MATCH.
How does the MATCH School experience compare to your own high school experience?
I went to a public magnet high school, which is a merit-based rather than a lottery-based school. (I had to take an exam to get in.) My high school was in Manhattan, so it was also in an urban center much like MATCH. However, I did not have a dress code or a code of conduct.
What surprised you most about the MATCH School?
I didn’t expect the MATCH School to be the wonderfully supportive community that it continues to be today. It’s only when you experience it as a staff member or student that you really appreciate it here. The students themselves surprise me each day as well; they are just so hilarious sometimes!
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Past Interviews |
Pamela Tieu Interview
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