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"Jessica:
I wanted to express to you and your staff how overjoyed Brian and I are with the success that Cameron has enjoyed since being a student at Sylvan.
When Cameron first started attending in January 2009, he was having difficulty with his studies but even more affected were his confidence and self esteem as a result of those difficulties. He was not excited about school and found nothing to enjoy in any of his classes. One teacher worked to help him the others literally didn’t have the time, energy or available resources. It was apparent to us that Cameron needed more help than his dad or I could provide, which is what brought us frantically to your desk during Christmas break.
Needless to say, Cameron was NOT thrilled. He refused to come through the door unless Brian and I conducted Navy seal-type surveillance to guarantee no one was coming or going from one of the other businesses that might see him. He begrudgingly got through the initial testing only to tell us that we were too old to understand the ‘new math’ and to beg us not to make him go to Sylvan. He didn’t want his two brothers to know about Sylvan in case they let it slip during a conversation to a cousin of a friend who had a sibling who might also be attending Westminster High School!!
From the minute he began coming regularly, you and your staff made Cameron feel comfortable and welcome. By the third visit, he stopped having me to drop him off in the Martin’s parking lot wearing a hat, big sunglasses and the darkened car windows all the way up. By week three, he was discussing the tutoring with a friend at our house one afternoon and sounded proud of what he was learning. He didn’t even whisper!! After a couple of months, he didn’t mind that his brothers knew about it and he was asking them for rides to get there when I needed to work late. And he spoke to us about what he was doing during his sessions there!
In spite of himself, Cameron began to look forward to it. He was able to bring his difficulties to the table and have them addressed – completely and totally until he was comfortable with the topic. Over time, he began to bridge what he was learning into was being taught in school. His confidence and self-esteem have snowballed. In 10th grade he is optimistic about school and college, working diligently in all of his classes and managing to stay on top of his assignments and grades for the first time. He is a much happier, more confident, less intimidated student who participates at a high rate, is comfortable asking questions and does not feel overwhelmed with his assignments. He also knows that if he feels that things are getting ahead of him, he can bring any question, homework or class assignment to his session and receive the tutelage he needs. He looks forward to Sylvan and enjoys every staff person he’s had the pleasure to meet or work with.
‘Thank you’ simply doesn’t encompass the gratitude we feel for what you have all managed to give our son and the peace of mind you’ve given us. The value of an education is priceless. It is literally everything to having our children be successful. You cannot put a price on the pride in Cameron’s eyes and the accomplished squaring of the shoulders as he shows me his grade indicating that he has a 106% in his GP Lit class! He’s even completed extra credit without needing it to keep a passing grade!! Nine months ago, this was not the case. Thanks to you and your staff, Cameron has come a long way in a very short time.
Cameron’s Dad and I looked at more expensive and less expensive options. We made our decision as we sat in your office talking with you in December. Cameron’s happiness and level of improvement remind us every day that we made the correct choice for him. Thank you and your staff for all that you’ve done.
Very sincerely,
Sherry and Brian Dull"
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