When the world shut down in 2020, students everywhere lost access to extracurricular activities. For countless kids, the resources that helped them grow academically and personally over the summer disappeared overnight.
So Discovery Circle was founded: a free online learning initiative designed to connect young students with coaches who could teach them everything from extracurricular skills, like music, art and coding to academic subjects like math and writing.
Today, Discovery Circle has reached over 500 students across multiple states and countries, hosted more than 300 classes and built a community of 75 dedicated high school coaches who give their time to teach and mentor younger learners. In six years, what began as a simple idea has evolved into a student-driven movement.
With no fees or barriers, Discovery Circle has a commitment to accessible learning, giving each student the chance to discover their passions. With our coaches being high school students, they are able to connect and create a connection with their students.
Over the past six years, I have watched students light up, whether it be from finally understanding a concept or delivering their first speech, and I have watched coaches grow into confident leaders as teachers. This two-way exchange makes our program just as much about developing youth leaders as serving students.
As I look ahead, our goal is to expand Discovery Circle’s reach while deepening its impact on every student and coach. This program has taught me that community service has a way of giving back to everyone involved. I hope to see future student leaders carry our mission forward, creating a lasting impact on future generations.
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