SDYS Voices

SDYS Voices: Jessica Boynton

Meet Jessica Boynton, who has volunteered with San Diego Youth Services for 3.5 years. For the past two years, she has been tutoring a teen for our Adoption Support Services.

“Growth inspires me but it’s also the connection and seeing the direct impact. During the holidays, I was switching jobs and I had to deal with lots of change.

When he was back in school and ready to start tutoring again I came to tutor and that day after seeing him I just felt so good, like everything was back to normal. Despite that I was having a bunch of life changes, there was that consistency. I’m sure he feels the same way, too. It’s kind of funny. I’m not the at-risk youth and yet I am being affected in a similar way. It feels good to have that connection with someone you are helping.

Within the last two years, I have also seen him go from being super frustrated every time I would come over and we would do math together to just having no problem. He is a smart kid. I don’t have to teach him a lot, mostly I impart patience and tell him that if he is having a problem, he can do it. He is usually capable of figuring it out. That’s also an interesting dynamic: It’s not traditional tutoring, but more of a mentorship.”