Okay, let’s be real. My job as a tutor and mentor has gone from “chalk dust and coffee stains” to “pixels and panic-buttons” in the last decade. Technology, bless its digital heart, has completely flipped my teaching world upside down. And honestly? It’s a bit of a love-hate relationship.

Remember those days of schlepping across town for a one-hour session? Yeah, me neither. Now, I’m basically a global guru, teaching kids in their pajamas from my kitchen table. Thanks, Zoom! I’ve even had a student try to pay me in virtual currency once. (Spoiler: it didn’t work).

And the resources! Forget dusty textbooks; I’ve got interactive whiteboards that make my old chalkboard look like a cave painting. I can show them videos of exploding volcanoes, run simulations of the solar system, and even play educational games that are, dare I say, almost fun. Almost.

The best part? It’s like having a tiny robot assistant who knows everything. I throw in some data, and bam! Personalized learning plans pop out like magic. It’s like they know my students better than I do… which is slightly terrifying, but mostly helpful.

But it’s not all sunshine and digital rainbows. Trying to keep a kid engaged when they’re staring at a screen for hours is like trying to herd cats with laser pointers. And don’t even get me started on the “digital divide.” Some of my students are rocking iPads and high-speed internet, while others are struggling with glitchy connections and borrowed laptops. It’s a real bummer.

And let’s be honest, sometimes I miss the human touch. The awkward jokes, the shared eye-rolls, the genuine “aha!” moments that happen when you’re face-to-face. Tech is great, but it can’t replace the weird, wonderful chaos of real human interaction.

So, where does that leave us? Well, I’m embracing the robots, but I’m also making sure I don’t become one. I’m using all the fancy tools, but I’m remembering that at the end of the day, it’s about connecting with another human being. It’s about sparking curiosity, igniting passion, and maybe, just maybe, making learning a little less painful.

And if all else fails, I’ll just blame the Wi-Fi. It’s always a safe bet.