Name: Eliza Shepard
Hometown: Hamden, CT
College and Major: Vassar College, Psychology
Tutoring Site: Bristol Street
Clubs: Finance 101 and STEM Exploration
Favorite Childhood Book: A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban
When looking for a summer job, I knew that I wanted to work with kids. This past year, I have found joy in working with children, whether it be while working at summer camp or volunteering at a middle school while I was away at college. These experiences have jump started my love of teaching and working with children. When I found the job posting for the New Haven Reads Summer Intern, I knew that working at New Haven Reads was exactly what I wanted to do. It combined all of the things I was looking for: working with kids, gaining experience teaching and lesson planning, and making an impact on my community.
Since working at New Haven Reads these past few weeks, my love for teaching has only continued to grow. The combination of tutoring and running clubs has given me experience working both one-on-one and in small groups. Each day at New Haven Reads is different due to the different students I meet and the different club activities taking place. Every tutoring session is different and every club brings something new to the table. This allows for lots of variety in my work day which always keeps me on my toes. Additionally, the wonderful staff at New Haven Reads and Bristol Street have been so helpful and encouraging, which brings the best out of me and all New Haven Reads students.
Even though I have only worked here for a few weeks, my experience at New Haven Reads has been inspiring. Working amongst staff who are so passionate about their work and intelligent students who are determined to reach their goals has made this job entirely worth it. I can’t wait to continue my journey at New Haven Reads this summer and see what else is in store!
