Joan Goetchius

About a year ago, two "good buddies", Joan Goetchius and Mimi Smith, decided to begin a new venture together-doing their part to combat the large problem of illiteracy. After completing the Council's tutor training workshop in January 1999, both began volunteering in a Basic Skills class at South Piedmont Community College (SPCC).

Both agree that the idea to train as tutors stemmed from Goetchius who has a long history of volunteerism in her family. Goetchius says she wanted to make herself useful and believes that the inability to read keeps people shut off from the world. Goetchius believes her degree in Health Education, which she earned from Wingate University at age 55 helps her when she is working with students. Moreover, she believes it is important for a tutor to like people and know how to deal with different types of people, especially those who may be embarrassed by their life circumstances. Smith believes that a college degree may help a tutor but the most important criteria for a potential tutor is the desire to help someone.

Both women also speak of the rewards they receive from the tutoring experience. Goetchius tells of the thrill she gets every time a student's eyes light up or one says with surprise, "I didn't know that!" Smith agrees that knowing that what she does in class benefits her student in and out of class is a great reward. She enjoys the challenge of working with adult students and studies lessons in advance when she knows which students she will have. Both women work with one main student, but they are available to help others as the need arises. In addition to teaching reading, tutors often introduce students to everyday knowledge and experiences the student may have missed because of their limited educational opportunities. They say the tutors learn a lot too.

Both women like the convenience of having the set schedule that SPCC classes provide. Smith says she enjoys seeing all the students come to class and knowing that they are all willing to work at their education. It makes both Goetchius and Smith do their best to be in class every Wednesday night. Even if they've had a rough day, they know that at least one student is counting on them to be there.