Name: Yahir Escobedo Martinez
Hometown: West Haven, CT
College and Major: Gateway Community College, Graphic Design and Illustration
Tutoring Site: Willow Street
Club: Math 1 and Chess
Favorite Childhood Book: The Zodiac Legacy by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore.
I had heard of New Haven Reads prior to starting my internship, but I didn’t fully understand the impact the organization has on the community. Working as a tutor allowed me to see firsthand how New Haven Reads helps children build confidence in their reading abilities while creating a supportive environment where they can grow both academically and personally. Working at New Haven Reads has been such an amazing and heartwarming experience. From my first day, I felt incredibly welcomed by the staff, volunteers, and students. The environment at every site is supportive and caring, and it is clear that every staff member genuinely enjoys seeing their students each day and helping them continue to build their literacy skills. It has been incredible to watch the site directors and tutors work together to create individualized plans and lessons that meet each student’s unique needs. Being part of New Haven Reads has helped me find my place in the community and shown me how I can make a difference, whether through tutoring sessions or by working on projects that help each site maintain its positive and welcoming environment.
One of my favorite moments during my internship happened during the second week of running the chess club at Willow Street. We were reviewing how each chess piece moves, and at first some students were unsure because many of them had never played chess before. As we continued practicing, I could see the concepts beginning to click. The students started recognizing how each piece moved and became faster and more confident in making their own moves. Watching them connect what we had been practicing was an incredibly rewarding experience. It made me realize that the time I had spent preparing lessons and activities for the club was making a real difference. Seeing their excitement and confidence grow reminded me that the time and effort put into planning engaging activities can have a positive impact on students.
Moments like that are what made this internship so meaningful to me and reinforced why I enjoy working with young aspiring readers and helping them build confidence in themselves.
