When I was in 11th grade, I took the Q train from Avenue M to Canal Street for tutoring. It was an 8-mile journey that often took 50 minutes, if I didn’t get lost on the subway. My tutors were patient and generous with their time, helping me improve my geometry skills. Thanks to their support, I did well on my Regents exam. In college, I needed tutoring again, but the official tutoring center only allowed two sessions, which wasn’t enough. Thankfully, another student offered to help me for free in the library, sometimes for four or more hours at a time.
Looking back, I realize not only how valuable those tutoring sessions were, but also the connections that I made. Social capital is the value derived from positive connections between people. So much of our lives are shaped by the people we grow up with and the communities to which we belong. If you are surrounded by high achievers, you are more likely to be motivated to accomplish more. Those who end up happy and thriving in life often had strong social capital, people who encouraged and supported them in building a meaningful life.
Today, Princeton Public Library cardholders have access to even more support than I did. Through Brainfuse, live tutors are available every day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. The platform offers K–12 tutoring in subjects like English, math, and social studies. For high school seniors, tutoring is available in trigonometry, geometry, algebra I & II, pre-calculus, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, global history, and U.S. history.
During my second year of college, I was anxious about finding a summer job. While I was in the computer lab, I ran into someone from my dorm. She had a friend with her, and when I mentioned I was job hunting, the friend indicated the summer camp he worked at was still hiring. I applied right away and was offered the job after the interview. That summer, I earned money while making a meaningful impact, primarily because of this connection that I had made.
The library hosts biweekly “Job Seekers” meetings, where a coach provides guidance for job searching and networking. Cardholders can also take advantage of JobNow (available through Brainfuse) to create a resume, write a cover letter, and practice with mock interviews.
It wasn’t until I began graduate school at Syracuse University that I truly understood how much social capital shapes our lives. In my classes, we explored who goes to college and who doesn’t. I was amazed by how profoundly a person’s home environment, community, and school can influence their future. For example, students from affluent families often score higher on the SAT simply because their families can afford expensive test prep and tutoring. The library works to bridge the gap by offering free SAT prep through Brainfuse. Whatever your dreams may be, we likely have resources to help you pursue them.