It’s hard enough to get through math class in normal times. But having to learn online with COVID restrictions? Yeah, that can be REALLY challenging!
A recent study by the Center for Disease Control found a significant uptick in anxiety and depression among teens since the start of COVID-19. The abrupt transition to virtual learning and ensuing decrease in social interaction has left teens bored, overwhelmed, and stressed out.
To cope with this new reality, Meera Khare of Vernon Hills created Math-Aid: free math tutoring for everyone! Her idea was simple: create an organization where high school volunteers can help students with their math homework, creating a program that alleviates E-Learning related stresses.
She and her peers were finding it difficult to be involved in any meaningful community service, and what’s better than a service to struggling students? Starting October 2020, Meera got her peers involved as volunteers and started providing one-on-one help sessions via Zoom meetings to students struggling with Math.
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Starting with close friends, relatives and neighbours, this idea of Meera reached many other people, regions and organizations, which made it possible for her to use her love of the subject in doing something meaningful for the society.
Math-Aid tutors have spent more than 1,100 student hours working with nearly 300 students from first grade through high school throughout Illinois and some other states. Khare now has a team of about 30 tutors volunteering their time. She plans to continue with the service in her senior year and then pass on the baton to future students.
“I built this foundation with the belief that students who desire to learn and improve their mathematics skills should have access to help without any financial obstacles, which is why Math-Aid will always remain free of charge,” Khare said.
