“Why are you going to tutoring? You’re not dumb!” my 4th grade sister said this morning as I was getting dropped off for tutorials.

After quickly correcting her and telling her that tutoring isn’t for people who are dumb rather for people who may need a little extra help, I got to wondering: how many people think this?

I realized that so many people probably stay away from tutoring and consequently deprive themselves of a better GPA all because their friends don’t seem to need it or because they’re scared of being discriminated against for it.

BUT GOING TO TUTORIALS DOES NOT MEAN YOU’RE DUMB!

Up until high school, tutoring was for kids who learned too slowly to keep up with the class. Now, tutoring has a whole different purpose. Instead of being for kids who are just too slow to pick up the subjects like the rest of the class, it is also for kids who need to make things up, kids who need extra practice, and even just for a place to go when they need to get homework done.

“It’s extra practice for when you take a test so it will be automatic,” Center of Academic Training instructor Jennifer Leary said.

Students need to know that if they think they can’t go to tutoring because it will make them look stupid, they are 100 percent wrong.

“I think the main thing that students can get during tutorials is one-on-one time with the teacher.” AP World History teacher Kevin Finn said. “Teachers can address a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses and help them figure how to improve their performance, whether it’s on homework, quizzes, essays, or tests.”

Something needs to be done about these misconceptions students have towards tutoring. Students cannot just give in to the idea that they just won’t  understand a concept– what would the point of school be if students didn’t  learn and master the material they’re taught?  Many GPAs wouldn’t be as high as they are without tutoring and extra help.

“Even if you’re a really good student, coming to tutorials can still get you a better grade on a test,” Leary said.