Joseph Price has been attending Cluster Tutoring as a student since the 4th grade. But this year, he received a bonus as well as homework help — he’s now working as Cluster’s program assistant on Tuesday nights.
Joseph has had multiple tutors over the years and has worked with tutor Louis Schorr since Joseph was in 8th grade. When Cluster Executive Director Kara Kalnitz approached him about helping as a program assistant, he was happy to help.
“I like it,” Joseph said. “I set up the tables. I take attendance and pass out snacks.”
Traditionally, program assistants have helped students who wanted to work on a computer, but after a year of online schooling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most students now that their own Chromebooks or other tablets. But Joseph is available if such a need arises.
Joseph has always met his tutor on Thursday nights, so coming on Tuesdays was a new experience. He didn’t know any of the other students, “but I’m getting to know them now.”
Joseph is a senior at Little Black Pearl Art & Design Academy. After graduation next spring, he’s not sure if he’ll head right to college or take a gap year, but he definitely wants to study gaming. Joseph is a gamer and likes to compete playing Fortnite and Dauntless.
Another possibility is working on computers in police work. “I’m thinking about work in computers tracking criminals,” he said. “It looks very interesting.”
Joseph had a summer job working for the Maywood Police Department, where he enjoyed talking to kids and motivating them, often listening to them as they described their problems. He also had a stint working with the Maywood Park District.
Until college, Joseph is preparing for a job as a lifeguard. He swims at Austin Town Hall. “I really love to swim,” he said.