HCB Graduate Students Supporting Other Students

The Fall term is well underway at Roosevelt University. In the Heller College of Business, Graduate Assistants are available Monday through Thursday (and on Zoom) to meet with and support other students taking business courses through tutoring, assisting with understanding the most effective way to approach homework, and generally being an academic support and resource. Students that are experienced and willing to help another student navigate difficult terrain can serve as a beacon of hope for those who are struggling. As Dean Ryan Petty has shared in his Welcome address for returning students, "We all face challenges; each one of us, and we have resources to help with those challenges. You are not alone in this." We all need support in some fashion and ... the extra-good news: we all can give support in some way!

As I watch the season unfold to reveal beautiful autumn colors here in the Midwest (and I am admittedly primed by product displays of certain seasonal holidays!) I go into a mode of reflection and gratitude. As I think of this for myself, I will encourage all of us to highlight, in our own minds, how we are currently giving others the type of support they need. Perhaps that is academic or work support, completing a task or understanding a process, or it takes the form of some other type of support; patience in hearing a personal story that the narrator may find a bit more exciting than the listener, kindness in how we respond to another's error, or whatever other support we can possibly give to another person. If you find you do not have any space to support others ("too busy", "too many of my own fires to put out", etc.), consider how you could provide something different given your current constraints. Perhaps you can help fill that gap by connecting that person with something that does help them in a tangible, supportive way. Sometimes it is simply connecting someone to a resource, or even acknowledging the effort they are going through, and that can be a form of support that makes a real difference.

If you are a Roosevelt student seeking tutoring information on business courses you can contact the team at: [email protected] with your inquiry. If you have comments or want to reach out on this very brief article please post them below. I sincerely thank you for reading this article and hope your Fall season is going swimmingly, whether you are watching leaves turn or enjoying palm trees and 80 degree weather!