Finding a job at the age of 14 can be a bit of a challenge.

But for freshman Zahra Rahmani, her family provided the inspiration for her money-making endeavor.

“I started tutoring just at the beginning of this year in order to make money,” Zahra said. “Since I’m still a 14-year-old, I don’t have access to a lot of jobs, so tutoring was the best option.”

With Zahra being tutored at the young age of eight due to her struggle in math, she was influenced and decided that she also wanted to help kids with the subjects they had difficulties in. 

“The thing I really like about tutoring is seeing how much progress the child makes,” Zahra said. “When I was younger I got tutored and I know that it definitely helped me a lot. My previous tutor also liked seeing how much I had learned and improved in the subject.” 

However, Zahra didn’t know how a tutor truly felt seeing the child achieve accomplishments until she became one. 

“At the time, I didn’t understand why my tutor would get happy for me since I was just a child. But now since I do tutoring, I feel happy to see the child that I’m tutoring get better at what I’m teaching them,” Zahra said. “Tutoring is a very rewarding job and when I see the child improve, I feel that I did a good job in teaching them.”

But Zahra’s not the only tutor in the family as her sister, Minaa, who has once done tutoring decided to start again.

“Initially I started tutoring in sophomore year of high school as a small side job, but then stopped for years until now when I started looking for a job through my college,” Minaa said. “I started working for the Internet of Tutors and I realized I was pretty good at math and I wanted to be able to help kids who need assistance.” 

Seeing Zahra tutor, her sister is proud that Zahra is making an influence on the students she is tutoring. 

“I think it’s great that Zahra is tutoring as she has a kind soul and always wants to help out. She has also been volunteering at a preschool since she was seven years old so she had plenty of practice with teaching or helping kids,” Minaa said.

The chain of tutors in Zahra’s family might have all started with Zahra’s mom, Sonia, who once taught kids when she was a teenager.

“Like the rest of my kids, I did tutoring for maybe a year or so,” Sonia said. “I have worked in the education field for 14 years and have the greatest respect for my kids’ avocation.” 

Watching her children grow, Sonia is happy to see that they are tutoring those children in need of help.

“I feel very proud that all three of my kids have chosen to spread knowledge to those who need it,” Sonia said. “Watching their students succeed in their homework, tests, and assignments makes me feel a sense of achievement that my kids have worked hard and are giving back to the community in the noblest way possible.”