Porter Tutors

About Porter

Porter, a suburb of Houston, has stood as a community of inclusion and diversity since its origins in the last century and its ensuing population boom. Porter’s population is representative of Texas in general: high achievers, communally-minded, and participants in the American dream. Upward mobility is alive and well in this community, as well as social cohesion. Many factors influence how a town functions economically and socially, but one of the most important factors begins in the local school system. Porter High School, recently founded and incorporated into the school district, has formed a club to reflect the values of Porter, as well as strengthen them. Named “Interact,” the club prepares students for life as citizens living in an ever-expanding Porter.

Interact, according to the school’s website, “is an organization of students from every clique, every group and every type of students at PHS. From jocks to academics, band kids to the unaffiliated, any and all students are welcome to join.” High school is a time when groups are formed and is also a time when adolescent anxiety is high. Where do I fit in? I’m not smart enough to hang out with the nerds, but I’m not athletic enough to be a jock. I’m not talented enough for music or theater, and I’m not outgoing enough to be part of student leadership. Interact is for everyone who has experienced feelings like these, and is for students who want a place to fit in without having to be the same as their peers.

What does Interact do as a club, you may ask? Their core values and mission statement are simple: 1. Give Back to Our Community, 2. Build New Friendships, 3. Have Fun. Interact focuses on service and charity, volunteering at local events to help strengthen the sense of community in Porter. This, in turn, is reflected in the club itself, with a diverse body of students that make it up. Social status, skills, and grades are not important requirements for Interact.

The invitation for various students to join Interact reads as follows: “Some of the students who are in Interact joined because they wanted to have some fun experiences with their friends. Plenty of students just wanted to see what it was about and have been coming ever since. Why not give it a shot and see what you can do to give back to your community?” This persuasive pitch for the club encourages students of all strata at Porter High School to overcome their differences and work together—to interact—and from there, make their local community a better place.

Tutors in Porter know the value of interacting with their clients, and how important it is for social hurdles to be overcome for students to succeed. Their clients may be used to not interacting, and used to bad grades as a result, but Grade Potential tutors are there to help them engage again, with new and better habits, to improve their academic performance.