The Butterfly Effect
How one conversation can change everything
The only reason I began freelance tutoring is because I created a network of supportive mentors around me post graduation, seemingly from scratch and over the course of a few months, and received helpful insights specific to my circumstances.
One of my mentors encouraged me to try online freelance tutoring, to bring language and music lessons to those with the will to learn and an internet connection. At the time, I was an unemployed recent grad panicking about my future and applying to every job I thought fit my credentials. Further complicating matters was (and still is) COVID-19, and as this was only a few months ago, the memory is still fresh in my mind.
I looked up to my mentor, a freelance writer with miles of experience working with people from all backgrounds, and was happy to embark on such a promising task. I started by creating a flyer on Pages and editing it to professional credibility, then sending it to various schools’ language departments and resource centers. I sent about 50 emails over the course of two days, and while a few people responded, it was one professional’s email that ultimately led me to the path I’m currently on. My mentor supported me during the entire weekend, encouraging me to finish sending the emails ASAP.
You could call it a butterfly effect, an example of a seemingly small conversation that resulted in a significant life change.
As a bilingual Moldovan-Romanian and English speaker, semi-bilingual Russian speaker, and French language aficionado I knew I could best help my students with languages. Although I enjoy math and science, I don’t have enough knowledge in these areas to make significant contributions. Since I played piano for a decade and studied 100+ hours for the ACT, I decided to tutor piano performance and ACT English and Reading as well.
As my dashboard’s lesson count ticked from 1 lesson to 5, then 20 to 35, I met students of all ages and from all around the world. I started tutoring on more platforms, figured out the best method of presentation (student windows should always be minimized and positioned right underneath the computer camera), and did my best to explain verb conjugations and grammatical concepts.
More importantly, I have a positive impact on the people I meet. It’s my responsibility to help students achieve their goals and dreams, whether it’s passing a test or learning a new skill. Both ventures instill confidence and beget more learning, and it’s quite humbling to be a part of such a large global community. Freelance tutoring has improved my communication, cultural competence, and leadership skills. I’m more prepared to work on teams and manage conflict, and have a better grasp on how to simplify complex concepts for any audience. And all of this personal and professional development thanks to one conversation I had. It wasn’t easy to begin, and teaching people I didn’t know was a tad outside of my comfort zone. However, I’m happy I took the first step, and encourage anyone else interested in knowledge sharing to do the same.
