Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks with fellow tutor entrepreneur Ray Steffen about how he became a tutor, why he became a tutor, and his thoughts on the tutoring industry.

Ray and Gabrielle discuss the challenges of tutoring and the changes in the curriculum over the years. Ray shares his experience of falling into tutoring and how he grew his business. They also talk about the difficulties students face in learning math, including the need for instant gratification and the lack of patience. This episode emphasizes the importance of tutoring and the role it plays in helping students succeed in school. Ray's approach to tutoring is focused on building relationships with students and helping them develop the skills they need to succeed academically and beyond. The conversation highlights the importance of personalized, one-on-one tutoring and the challenges of adapting to changing circumstances in education. Ray discusses his experience as a tutor during the pandemic, noting that there was a significant drop in demand for his services during the height of the pandemic. However, as schools began to reopen and return to pre-pandemic expectations, his business skyrocketed. This episode aims to normalize tutoring and provide resources for students who may be struggling with homework or falling behind in their studies.

Who is Ray Steffen?
Ray Steffen was never good at math; he didn't understand or enjoy it, and although he could occasionally sneak an answer from the person next to him, he was never an 'A' student. He didn't know how to study and wasted his time trying. His identity shift occurred in college when professors didn't care how badly he struggled; he rose to the occasion or dropped the course. He needed help, as there was no more 'extra time,' 'retakes,' or people patting his back or holding his hand. Feeling lost, he noticed a gnarly-looking kid who answered every question in class with ease and clarity. Building up enough nerve, Ray asked him for help one day, and the kid agreed, suggesting they meet in the tutoring center. Ray was surprised to learn they had a tutoring center and that this rough-looking dude was one of the paid tutors on campus. They started working together, and Ray found that he understood what the tutor was saying; it made sense, and he knew everything the tutor was explaining. During the tutor's smoke breaks, Ray crunched problems with a precision that previously looked like gibberish. One day, he overheard another person struggling, and the tutor helping her also struggled to explain. Ray stepped in to help, and the student and the tutor were amazed, as was Ray himself. He was hired that day and became one of the highest-paid tutors in the center that year, specializing in college statistics, one of the most challenging classes. Every student had to take it as a general credit, but only Ray in the tutoring center could help. To handle the workload, his sessions turned into four groups in the library study rooms, with a whiteboard and a table, sometimes for five hours before basketball. He hasn't looked back since.

You can find Ray Steffen:
On the web: https://express.adobe.com/page/SiP4mmBcWqtwL/?fbclid=IwAR21F3eAKfbhyBbNbBPj7I_nzdhCFYV18PZsz2D0mrk_J8BMyf6WDnNFiUE
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theridgetutor
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rsteffen43

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Original date of episode: February 12, 2023