Inspired by a book: Lubbock High graduates continue growing their Robin's Nest tutoring group

Jeffery Zhou and Hannah Kang recall being inspired by a class discussion on a book they read in their 11th-grade English class at Lubbock High School.

That book, the "Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League" by Jeff Hobbs, touches on the struggles of people from lower income backgrounds pursuing education.

The book and lesson served as a call to action for the pair, who were disturbed at the idea of socioeconomic status limiting a person's pursuit of an education.

That motivated them to help other students develop a love for learning and provide academic assistance and tutoring, recruiting other like-minded students to help.

In 2018, Zhou and Kang formed Robin’s Nest, a free tutoring service serving students K-12 around the Lubbock area.

“We wanted to help fill the education gap,” Kang told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal for a feature on Robin's Nest in June 2020. “Our goal is to help economically disadvantaged students have access to more educational opportunities, and guide them towards reaching their full potential.”

It started small, with just two volunteer tutors, but adapted to the social distancing requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic last year and has thrived.

After graduating from Lubbock High last year, Kang began attending Rice University in the fall and Zhou went to Cornell University, but they have remained active with Robin's Nest, which continues to recruit new tutors.

Now, Robin's Nest has expanded into an organization with over 40 volunteer tutors - mostly Lubbock High and other area students who meet strict academic requirements to help other students.

So far, more than 100 students have received free tutoring through the program, focusing on subjects including reading, math, science and more.

Robin's Nest, which Zhou and Kang hope to establish as a non-profit, focuses its efforts on impacting students from low-income households, but they accept students from all economic backgrounds in need of some guidance and inspiration from other students.

"Robin's Nest places high standards for all of our tutors," said Zhou. 

Each tutor is either recommended by a guidance counselor or arranged through an interview process where they are examined and required to teach a variety of subjects and topics to current tutors. All Robin's Nest tutors are high schoolers with the ability to instruct in a wide range of subjects from learning calculus to starting to developing reading skills.

"If someone comes to us with a subject, we will find a tutor that can suit their needs," Zhou said.

Robin’s Nest Tutoring also offers help for advance test preparation, such as for the SAT, ACT or STARR test, according to a profile on the organization the Avalanche-Journal published in June 2020.

Across their curriculum, Robin’s Nest places emphasis on ensuring each of their students are skilled readers - especially focusing on those efforts during the summer.

Zhoe said they recognize how necessary it is to read throughout the summer to combat the risk of summer learning loss, when many students on summer vacation lose some of the skills they've developed during the school year.

While much of their efforts in promoting reading come through practice, Robin's Nest tutors have had luck increasing kids' interest in reading through some simple tips and strategies, including:

- Allowing kids to choose a book. 

- Reading a variety of books to the student.

- Encouraging developing readers to read every other line on the page along with the tutor.

They initially held their tutoring sessions in-person at Godeke Library, but transitioned to an online, one-on-one format for tutoring due to rising concerns surrounding COVID-19. Despite the lack of physical sessions, Robin's Nest was still able to thrive.

"We were able to grow quite a bit while online because we gathered more tutors, and more parents were looking for ways to help their children through online schooling," Kang said.

COVID-19 allowed Robin's Nest members to focus more on business outreach and fundraising to help cover costs.

Now, as the restrictions regarding COVID-19 have eased, Robin's Nest has resumed its in-person tutoring program, including sessions from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the T.J. Patterson Branch Library, 1836 Parkway Drive, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Godeke Branch Library, 5520 19th St.

For more information or to sign up, visit robinsnestlubbock.com.