The DTS Difference, Caroline and Isaac

As we begin 2021 and the second half of our academic year, we are mindful of the role that self-esteem and self-efficacy play in the work we do with our students.  All students are capable of succeeding once they believe they can, but sometimes it takes someone else believing in them to ignite an awareness of their own potential. Since our beliefs inform our ambition and our sense of worthiness, our staff team works to expand students’ definition of what is possible.

Caroline and Isaac, members of our 9th-grade class who joined DTS in August and set their intention to be academically successful in high school. In doing so, they changed the trajectory of their lives as they left middle school with grades that would not lead them to high school graduation. They mapped out the steps they needed to take to achieve their goal, identified potential obstacles, planned possible solutions, identified their resources, and then DTS provided them with the support they needed. 

INTERVIEW with CAROLINE

Q: Caroline, how do you feel about middle school?   

A: I didn’t really like middle school. I had no motivation and I was scared to communicate with my teachers. I was afraid I would be belittled for asking for help. I especially dreaded math and English. 

Q: You earned outstanding grades in your first semester of high school. These grades are very different from the grades you earned in middle school. What changed?

A: Since joining DTS I am more confident and more motivated. Unlike middle school, I now have support. For example, when I am stuck on a math problem, Emmanuel is available to help me. Also, I check with my Advisor each week to talk about challenges I’m facing. I am actually enjoying school and achieving my academic goals makes me feel like I can overcome obstacles that seemed impossible before. 

INTERVIEW with ISAAC

Q: How do you feel about middle school?

A: In middle school, I only attended because it was required to by law. When sitting in class I was often bored and unfocused. I earned mostly D’s and C’s and I did not care about learning. 

Q: You earned outstanding grades in your first semester of high school. These grades are very different from the grades you earned in middle school. What changed?

A: I earned all A’s and one B. The difference was the support I got from DTS. Being in DTS makes me feel part of something. People see me. I am not invisible anymore. For the first time, I felt like doing well in school was me working towards changing my life. In middle school, tutors made me feel like I should have already known the answer. But at DTS, my math tutor explains the concepts to me in a way that makes sense. This makes me feel good about school. Today, I want to learn about the subject being taught which is not how I felt in middle school.

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