With every tick of the clock, the anxious student?s mind whirls with feelings of inadequacy and failure. The test lands on the desk with a resounding thump and a quick glance reveals yet another failing grade.

Fortunately, on campus tutors can provide help for those who need extra review on a specific subject. Students only need to have the desire for assistance and the ability to pay to be eligible for tutoring. There are also some scholarships that are available for students who receive tuition assistance.

Academic support services have been available on campus since 1997. The program began with one part-time educational therapist, Debbie Seibert, who is now in charge of all the tutoring on campus.

The program began with only two students; it has now grown to 21 tutors and five educational therapists, serving 72 students.

Students are grateful to receive the extra help; and often, through tutoring, they can glean valuable insight into difficult subjects.

?I am mostly tutored in math,? Brad Smittcamp, ’06, said. ?I really enjoy being tutored because I get the one on one attention that is often hard to get in a larger classroom. My tutor really helps me break down all the information and I leave our sessions with more confidence.?

There are also students on campus who tutor their peers. High school students can tutor classmates or students from the junior high or elementary who need assistance.

?I really enjoy tutoring my seventh grade student,? Danae Cook, ’05, said. ?I love getting to be a part of the shaping and molding of a young person. To witness them actually receiving their first A?s in a couple of years is a really awesome feeling.?

As the head of the tutoring department, Siebert runs the program, matches each student with the right tutor and arranges times for the two to meet.

If a student is unsure about whether or not he or she needs tutoring, they should consider how much assistance they need. Usually, the minimum commitment is one semester.

?Everyone needs help with something sometime,? Siebert said. ?My hope is that students who are struggling in a subject would not hesitate to ask for help.?

Potential tutors should contact Principal Gary Schultz to request an interview. For more information on tutoring or for more information about being tutored, contact the high school office at 299-1695, ext. 5, or visit the Library Media Center.