Cynthia R.
Private tutor in Lompoc, CA
Education
Bachelors of Science in Occupational Studies from California State University Long Beach on a full academic scholarship
Experience
I am a coauthor of The Freedom Writers Diary which is a New York Times best selling book. Most of my adult life has been dedicated to reaching out to the students that are often overlooked as I once was. By using the same techniques that helped me to succeed, I can assist students in achieving the academic success they deserve. My Story THE STUDENTS OF ROOM 203 Following the L.A. Riots and the O.J. Simpson trial, the mood in our city was unsettling, and on our first day of high school, we had only three things in common: we hated school, we hated our teacher, and we hated each other. Whether it was official or not, we all knew that we had been written off. Low test scores, juvenile hall, alienation, and racial hostility helped us fit the labels the educational system placed on us: “unteachable,” “below average,” and “delinquents.” Somehow, Ms. G recognized our similarities, and used them to unite us. She gave us books written by teenagers that we could relate to, and it was through these books that we began to realize that if we could relate to a little girl who lived on the other side the world, fifty years before we did, we could certainly relate to each other. We felt like Anne Frank, trapped in a cage, and identified with the violence in Zlata Filipovic's life. We were so inspired by the stories of Anne and Zlata, that we wrote letters to Miep Gies, and to Zlata, in hopes that they would come to Long Beach and share their stories with us. When Miep visited us, she challenged us to keep Anne's memory alive and “passed the baton” to us. It was then that we decided to begin chronicling our lives. We began writing anonymous journal entries about the adversities that we faced in our every day lives. We wrote about gangs, immigration, drugs, violence, abuse, death, anorexia, dyslexia, teenage love, weight issues, divorce, suicide, and all the other issues we never had the chance to express before. We discovered that writing is a powerful form of self expression that could help us deal with our past and move forward. Room 203 was like Anne's attic or Zlata's basement, it was our safe haven, where we could cry, laugh, and share our stories without being judged. We decided to call ourselves the Freedom Writers after learning about the Freedom Riders who fought against segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. When we began writing these entries as a simple English assignment, we had no idea that they would one day be collected and published in a book, The Freedom Writers Diary. Since graduation, we have kept our promise of trying to change education. We continue to share our story and mentor students and teachers. We have created this website because we want to form a community like the one we formed in Room 203, where people feel safe, accepted, and understood. We hope that The Freedom Writers Diary will inspire you to succeed academically, change your community, and share your own story. - The Freedom Writers
Availability
Any day at any time
Can Meet
Up to 30 minutes away for no additional charge, Up to 1 hour away for a flat fee
Hobbies
Today's educational system is to rigid to address the needs of many students. Bad grades is only one part of the problem, often times a students confidence, enthusiasm, and behavior are also damaged by their poor performance. That's where The Freedom Writers methodology comes in. By teaching the same old stuff in a whole new way you will see your child grow and improve in all subjects.
Show More
Inquire About This Tutor
Thanks!
Most tutors respond within 48 hours.
Feel free to contact other tutors while you wait.