A Tutor Focused on Connection
Joshua De Castro has been tutoring with the Bay Area Tutoring Association since February 2025 — about a year and a half now. He’s worked with students at Rocketship Si Se Puede, focusing on English. Joshua got involved with BATA as an English tutor. Since then, he’s built a reputation for genuinely connecting with the students he works with.
More Than Just Curriculum
For Joshua, the most meaningful moments as a tutor go beyond the lesson plan. He says he especially enjoys learning about what his students are interested in outside of school. Whether it’s a hobby or a weekend activity, Joshua loves hearing how excited they get to share it with him.
That approach has paid off. One student, Esmerelda, stands out in particular. She started off quiet and hesitant to participate. However, over time, she grew into someone who was excited to learn and speak up in her tutoring group. It’s the kind of transformation that reminds Joshua why this work matters.
Balancing School and Service
Joshua is passionate about English, and that passion comes through in how he talks with his students. What he enjoys most about tutoring is simple: the conversations. He believes tutoring gives every student a fair chance to succeed in school, regardless of where they’re starting from.
Working with BATA has taught Joshua more than just tutoring skills, too. Balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, and his time with BATA has been a real lesson in time management. So far, it’s a challenge he’s taken in stride.
A Surprising Source of Support
When asked about the biggest surprise of tutoring at BATA, Joshua didn’t point to the students. Instead, he pointed to the site coordinators. Early on, a coordinator he’d started to connect with had to leave, and Joshua wasn’t able to build much of a relationship with him. However, his current coordinator has been different. Joshua says she genuinely cares about all her tutors and works hard to make things run smoothly for everyone.
Advice for Future BATA Tutors
Joshua’s message for anyone considering tutoring is short and confident: you got this.
Joshua De Castro tutors at Rocketship Si Se Puede through the Bay Area Tutoring Association (BATA).
Recent Comments