It’s 9:30 a.m. on an A-day. Students in Mr. Kennedy’s second-period AP Calculus AB begin to file through the door. As students take their seats, the class is abuzz with chatter. The bell rings, signaling the start of the period, but it’s not Mr. Kennedy addressing the class. Instead, it’s senior Jacob Rubenstein. 

After finding out that he would be out of school for six weeks due to surgery, Kennedy approached Rubenstein, asking him to teach the course in his absence. Already Kennedy’s peer tutor, Rubenstein gladly accepted. 

“I’ve had a lot of fun so far, but it’s different than what I expected it to be,” Rubenstein said. “I understand what it’s like to be a teacher now, and it’s not easy.”

While it may seem like a simple task to us students, teaching is far from a walk in the park. Especially in Rubenstein’s case, where he is teaching his peers. 

“There is a fine line between teacher and friend. Sometimes it’s hard to take control of a class of over thirty students, especially when some of those people are your own friends,” Rubenstein said. 

Although he is technically the teacher, Rubenstein finds himself learning lessons too. 

“I’ve had to adapt my understanding of the subject to cater to the needs of the students,” Rubenstein said. “I may have a mastery of the lesson, but a lot of the kids don’t. Because of this, I’ve had to think about calculus in different ways to best fit their needs.”

In addition, Rubenstein has also had to adjust from teaching students one on one to teaching a whole class. 

“I’ve tutored and I’ve helped friends, but teaching the whole class is a different experience. You have to help thirty kids reach a level of understanding, not just one. It can be overwhelming,” Rubenstein said. 

Despite the challenges, Rubenstein is optimistic about the class’s future. 

“I think everyone’s doing really well given the circumstances. I can only hope that their hard work will reflect on their AP tests,” Rubenstein said. 

Even though Rubenstein has made it clear he won’t pursue teaching professionally, this experience has meant a lot to him.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself, teaching, and how to adapt. It’s also rewarding to see people understand what I’m teaching them,” Rubenstein said.