Several Auburn University students have dedicated some of their time to tutor struggling students at Auburn Junior High School.
Kylie Mimnaugh, the founder of this group which has yet to be named, started the program when looking to get involved at Auburn.
“I transferred here my sophomore year and wanted to join a tutoring group, since I tutored all through middle and high school,” Mimnaugh said. “When I went to the Honors College and asked about it, I was encouraged to start the program myself.”
Mimnaugh’s tutoring career dates back to her childhood.
“When I was 12 and my brother was 9, our mom passed away from ALS, and our dad was traveling a lot for work,” Mimnaugh said. “My brother had a learning disability and struggled in school, so I was kind of the one who took over helping him learn and get past his academic issues.”
Mimnaugh and many other Auburn students go to AJHS twice a week to help students in subjects such as math, science and English. They also teach them organization and study skills.
“I really enjoy watching the students grow more confident in each subject as the semester goes on,” said Abi Arndt, one of the program’s tutors. “It’s really cool to be able to see a student who struggled with a topic initially conquer harder problems later in the year.”
The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30–4:30 p.m. They usually tutor between 10 to 20 students at a time.
Any Auburn University student can become a tutor. According to Arndt, it is a beneficial experience for all Auburn students, regardless of major.
“It’s a really good opportunity to work with people you wouldn’t normally work with,” Arndt said. “You don’t realize how much it’s going to impact you until you start.”
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Gabby Dance, senior in journalism with a minor in women's studies, is the assistant campus editor of The Auburn Plainsman.
