Age: 23
Home: Minneapolis
Job: Math tutor, University of Minnesota
Salary: $10 an hour
Education: expected bachelor of science in math (graduating in three months)
Dream job: Cabana boy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or any job where I don't have to wear a shirt.
How'd you get the job? I got an e-mail about this job. I knew that my grades were really good, and I had tutoring experience. I used to teach homeless kids at People Serving People how to do long division in my spare time. I also tutored English as a second language to Mexicans. I knew I was a perfect fit for the job. So I've been here for [three] weeks.
What do you do here every day? I sit down, grab a pen for myself and after that, anything goes. Then, I teach people math. I ask what class they're in, what problem they're doing. ... "Have you started the problem? Show me your work." And then I try to work them through it. It's nice because usually they're motivated -- they're motivated to come see me, so that means they're motivated to do their work, and I don't have to be like the mom. Sometimes they're too motivated, and I have to tell them to slow down. Especially if they get really stressed out about a problem or something, I tell them: "I got through [this class]. ... If I did it, you can do it."
What worries your students; why do they come see you? The classes they take are really hard, and the problems can be really far-out and sometimes there's no point in them, other than making you suffer. You either play the game or you don't. But I don't play the game anymore ... being a tutor motivates me more now than being a student, where you just have to squeak by. There are easy problems and hard problems, and the people that want to do the really hard problems ask me for help.
Favorite part of the job? Seeing someone's eyes sparkle when they learn something.
Hardest part? Being able to approach something I've never seen before, learn it, and then explain it to someone all in a very short period of time. I have to be very quick on my feet.
Math advice? If you ever do an integral, always remember to add the constant after you integrate. It's very important. Don't forget, or you're going to get points taken off.
If you won the lottery today, what would you do? I'd take my mom to a Mediterranean cooking class, and I'd pay for it.
HILARY BRUECK
