Sessions with Sydney is a weekly column by features editor Sydney Ray. For more installments of Sydney’s ideas, opinions and ramblings, check out the opinions page, and check back every Friday for a new issue.

During my sophomore year, I began tutoring a student in the library three days per week. I would help the student work on his homework, complete projects and study for tests.

Although it may seem slightly backwards, I always admired the student I tutored for having the guts to step up and say “I know I need help. Can you help me?” This was probably because it was something I was unable to do myself.

By the time my junior year rolled around, the student had built good study habits and no longer needed my assistance. But before I knew it, the tables had turned.

I was taking honors trigonometry and pre-calculus with Michael Fenton as my teacher. I do enjoy math a little, but from day one of the class, I was struggling badly.

I would get poor grades on almost every quiz and test, despite all the studying I did on my own time. It was highly frustrating, and I felt as though I was banging my head against a wall every time I went to math class. I also felt alienated, as if everyone else in class was smarter than me.

My parents wanted me to gain better understanding and succeed in class. We were all disappointed by my performance – especially me. They suggested I have an older, AP calculus student tutor me.

Unfortunately for both my grade and the comprehension I would leave class with, my pride got in the way. “I do not need a tutor,” I repeatedly told my parents, “because I am not stupid.”

I look back now and realize that not getting a tutor was the stupid thing to do. By having someone older and more advanced in the math field help me, I would have been encouraged and gained a better grasp of trigonometry.

I encourage any student who is struggling in a subject to find one-on-one time with another student or teacher who can help them in their studies. California Scholarship Federation (CSF) students offer free tutoring, facilitated by advisor Molly Sargent. The experience of struggling and feeling alone was burdensome to say the least, and I feel silly thinking it all could have been avoided.

Since then, I have received help several times from tutors. I found it very beneficial in that I could ask the person assisting me questions that I might not have thought about yet during the class session. Sometimes it even means the difference between having a passing grade and not.

I also tutor other students in my free time, which brings me a lot of joy. I like seeing students overcome a struggle and do well in school.

Although accepting my personal weaknesses was a rough realization, now that I am aware, I am able to work through them. In my opinion, the people who seek out tutors are the smart ones because they are secure enough in themselves to reach out and ask for help.

To contact a tutor, e-mail Sargent.