My Experience with LBN
I first started my time with the Learning Buddies Network (LBN) back in September 2022 as a Reading Mentor. Since joining, I have had the opportunity to pursue positions where I can confidently attest to having grown personally and professionally. In this blog, I will share my experiences with these positions and the various skills I acquired.
Source: Learning Buddies Network Website
Reading Mentor: September 2022
During my first term as a reading mentor, I immediately noticed the defining characteristic of the LBN program: the independent learning each buddy receives twice a week. This personalized support is very influential towards a buddy’s academic performance and overall English familiarity. Instead of regular lesson plans and learning activities designed to target a generalized variety of skill sets for young children, each mentor caters to students’ needs and learning styles.
During this time, I had a great time working with my buddy, and it was an enriching experience. As we embarked on our learning journey together, I not only witnessed my buddy's progress from the LBN program, as mentioned above, but also developed essential skills myself. Patience became a guiding virtue as I learned to provide support. My experience with LBN also taught me the value of adaptability, as I constantly adjusted my approach to meet my buddy's requirements. Furthermore, effective communication was pivotal in our interactions, allowing me to explain concepts clearly, actively listen to my buddy's concerns, and provide constructive feedback. For example, my buddy struggled grasping ethical topics from more advanced books as we continued throughout the term, such as racism and bias, and I had to make sure to break everything down slowly to help him comprehend these complex ideas. This experience enriched my personal growth by cultivating patience and adaptability and honing my communication skills.
Program Coordinator: February 2023
After having a positive experience as a reading mentor, I successfully applied as a program coordinator in the subsequent term. As the program coordinator, my responsibilities included supervising the tutoring pods and recruiting new volunteers. As such, this role provided me with the opportunity to enhance my organizational, leadership, and teamwork skills in a group setting.
Overseeing the program from this perspective has allowed me to develop my leadership abilities as I provide guidance and support to both the volunteers and the students. Additionally, collaborating with a diverse group of volunteers has strengthened my teamwork skills, as I facilitate communication and encourage collaboration among team members. This can be particularly highlighted as part of my responsibilities as a program coordinator is rotating throughout pods and providing weekly feedback to the mentors after every session to comment on what can be improved when it comes to their personal teachings. Being a program coordinator has given me a valuable platform to broaden my skill set and thrive in a group dynamic.
My experience at Learning Buddies Network offered me invaluable personal and professional growth opportunities. From my initial role as a Reading Mentor to becoming a Program Coordinator, I developed effective communication, adaptability, leadership, and empathy skills. However, what truly made both roles special was the broader impact it allowed me to witness. Seeing the growth, progress, and newfound confidence in both the buddies and the volunteers reaffirmed the transformative power of education, reinforcing my commitment to making a lasting and meaningful impact in the lives of others.