First Niagara Bank Intern: Rebecca

Tutoring and working at New Haven Reads was the best opportunity that could have been afforded to me. After volunteering with various organizations in the city, ranging from sports camps to education-based programs, for the past three years, I was determined to continue this summer. After hearing about NHR, I was instantly enthralled; I myself am interested in eventually developing my own program like this one. The fact that it is based in New Haven is also special to me: I got my first experience of tutoring here last summer, and I hope to continue to develop my ties to the community where I will be going to school for the next four years.

I can hardly believe five weeks have already flown by! The last week of summer session is creeping up, and will leave me with many unforgettable moments. I’ve met amazing people, heard and shared stories, and developed true friendships not only with the children, but also with the lively staff here at NHR. I thoroughly enjoy working with the kids; I love teaching them as well as learning from their own life experiences, which they are openly willing to share with me, strengthening the tutor-tutee bond which is pivotal at NHR. It has been so rewarding to see real progress with the kids as they have made strides in their reading abilities, which posits the great impact the program has on the community.
I have also enjoyed working for science club at New Haven Reads this summer. It is so satisfying to see the kids genuinely interested and invested in the various experiments and challenges which the club presents them with. One student professed, “Science Club is the best part of my week!”

I cannot wait to continue to involve myself with the program and hope you all have a lovely rest of the summer!

Rebecca Wolenski is one of five First Niagara Bank Summer Interns at New Haven Reads this summer. She will be attending Yale in the Fall and plans to study Psychology. Her internship is funded thanks to a generous grant from First Niagara Bank.