Enthusiasm + Gratitude = One Valuable Volunteer Experience!
Bob smiles with his math mentee, a 4th grade student at Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury
A financial supporter of Boston Partners in Education for many years, Bob Rosenbaum began volunteering with Boston Partners two years ago at the Orchard Gardens School in Roxbury, MA. Bob has demonstrated that he is an essential partner to our organization, as well as an exemplary volunteer and role model to his students. We are so proud of Bob’s commitment to help educate Boston’s youth. Here’s what he had to say about his experience mentoring fourth grade students through our Math Rules! program.
Q: What impact have you seen on the students?
A: The enthusiasm for math seems to be high. The two girls that I work with are keeping up with the rest of the class. The students are excited when I walk into the classroom and eagerly come over to the area where we work together. They have consistently put a lot of effort into their work and are attentive and engaged. The entire class is very well behaved (kudos to their teacher Ms. Donovan) and they are all very welcoming to me.
“This experience has been one of the most rewarding activities of my life. Giving a child just a little extra attention makes a world of difference to their success.”
Q: What has the impact been on you?
A: Fourth-grade math has been much more challenging for me then I imagined! It is keeping me on my toes. But, it is an extremely heartwarming experience to be with these children and watch them catch on to the material. I think a lot of credit goes to the environment at the Orchard Gardens School. I look forward to going in each week despite the long drive.
Q: What is the best part about volunteering?
A: Having the possibility of making a small difference in these children’s lives and hoping that they will continue to have an interest in math. The gratitude is pretty nice too. My final session last year exemplified this. The student that I had spent the most time with, Aroya, came up to me as the class was lining up to go to lunch and wrapped her arms around me and said she would miss me. Cue the tears!