By: David Schipper at 2Torial Educational Centre

How do people learn? Does everyone learn in the exact same way? Do some people have learning difficulties that prevent them from having as much success in life as others? Two or three decades ago, it would have been unheard of to have this conversation, yet today there are many students who struggle in and outside the classroom.

Dyslexia and attention-deficit disorder are two common barriers to successful learning but there are many others. Learning difficulties were rarely diagnosed in the past. However, in recent years, struggling students have finally started receiving the support they need in order to do well in school. Yet, some young people still fall through the cracks, never getting the assistance they deserve.

Dropout rates in Montreal are alarming. I read a recent article that stated that 19% of all boys in the French sector leave high school before graduation. Without an education, it becomes nearly impossible to find a job in today’s competitive marketplace. I decided that I wanted to help change this worrisome trend. I just had to figure out how I was going to do it.

I constantly ask myself what it means to learn. Does it mean reading books? Does it mean attending cultural events, such as going to a museum or a play? Perhaps learning simply means being curious about the world around you. I think that it is all of the above and more.

I learn every day. As a teacher, this means that I am always getting better at what I do, finding out what works and what doesn’t work with students. When I graduated from McGill with my education degree almost ten years ago, I wasn’t sure how I would apply my knowledge and abilities in a classroom setting.

I found out quickly. I had been tutoring students for as long as I could remember. Even when I was still in high school, I was tutoring my next door neighbour. When a local organization providing free academic support to students from low-income families asked me to work for them, I jumped at the opportunity.

That was the start of my career. I developed contacts at various schools throughout the city and began tutoring students full-time. I would do anything necessary to help a student succeed, from physical organization to mental preparedness. Constantly speaking with parents, teachers, and other school staff also proved essential.

There are so many distractions out there today, especially in the realm of technology. Also, there are so many things competing for our time and interest. Education and continued emotional growth are often shunted to the side. Parents and teachers often feel overwhelmed by all of the rapid changes affecting how young people grow up.

From the very beginning, I enjoyed the challenge of helping a student with learning difficulties. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than seeing someone succeed instead of struggle. I love what I do and try to instill a love of learning in as many young people as possible. Someone once told me that for her, reading was like breathing; you have to do it every day in order to survive. I feel the same way about learning.

When I launched my tutoring centre, 2Torial, in the fall of 2007, it was really important to me to cast as wide a net as possible. I wanted to help as many different types of students as possible. It was not going to be enough for me to provide academic support for elementary, high school, and college students. I also wanted to help special education and adult education students. I wanted to help people prepare for high school and college entrance exams.

Besides providing academic support to students in various subjects, a big part of what the centre offers is teaching students how to work. Work ethic is definitely something that can be learned. Applying oneself consistently may seem challenging at first, but once you learn how, it’s hard to stop.

I am still doing what I love, only on a larger scale. This makes me happy because I am helping more students than ever before. To me, educating yourself is a daily activity. As an added bonus, it will also help ensure that have the brightest future imaginable!

2Torial is an ideal place to learn how to become a better student. Learn more about 2Torial Educational Centre Inc.