Today we’d like to introduce you to India Barnes.
Hi India, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a native of Detroit, partially raised by my grandmother. I am a first-generation high school and college graduate. I had a zeal for learning and being a leader at a very young age. My passion exuded through me in many ways. I remember as a child pretending to have a school and teaching my younger sibling to read more fluently, which he still brags about today. My mom told me my childhood teacher would report that I was a good student, but I loved to take over the class as if I was the teacher. Somedays, I wouldn’t go outside to play because I was more interested in learning. As a child, I also wasn’t always required to go to school as I lived in a dysfunctional household. However, this didn’t stop me as I was determined to get my education, so I would dress as best as possible and walk numerous blocks to school. All of that, coupled with who I am now, let me know that teaching in some fashion is my calling on this earth.
Fast forward to college, I stumbled upon this passion again, which I had forgotten about for a while as I didn’t major in education due to being unsure about which career path to choose. While in college, two instances confirmed that I should’ve chosen to teach. In one of those instances, I was enrolled in a statistics class (quantitative research) in which I excelled, and I would meet with the other students before class and tutor them for free. The professor walked in early one day, and she took joy in seeing me going above and beyond for my peers, so she recommended me to be a supplemental instructor. Shortly after this, I graduated University of Michigan- Dearborn with a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science.
I later went on to work in a few different fields which I picked up a variety of skills. I worked as a Scribe (transcriptionist) for a few psychiatrists and a manager in training at Enterprise. Although these positions were short-lived, they exposed me to some much-needed skills that I still apply to my career and business. During my previous career, at Enterprise I felt unfulfilled because I knew my calling wasn’t to sell rental cars; so, I left and went back to school.
Now here we are in 2021. This past May, I graduated from Mercer University with a Master of Arts in Teaching with a 4.00-grade point average, and I enjoyed every moment of my learning experience. I currently work in the same school district I completed my internships in as a fourth-grade teacher. I love what I do, and from what I hear, I am good at what I do, especially being a first-year educator.
Overall, my passion, experiences, and love for learning have helped me realize how much I don’t want to limit myself. I believe I am here to lead, serve, educate and motivate others in which I plan to live out these dreams through my company, Learn Plus Tutor.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. It has been many ups and downs and twists and turns, but my resilient nature keeps me going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am the founder and operator of Learn Plus Tutor, LLC (www.learnplustutor.com). It was started on November 25, 2020. The idea for the business came about seven months prior, but time and funds caused things to be delayed. Also, the first name I chose was taken, and I had to come up with another, which took time. The name is Learn Plus Tutor because when you sign up to be a tutor, you automatically receive a learner’s side of the platform to allow the tutors to learn if interested. Learn Plus Tutor is an online tutoring marketplace where we bring students and tutors together to work through our online classroom. We offer homework and testing help in all school subjects, and we work with all ages of students. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and culturally and linguistically responsive.
What sets us apart from the competition is that we have an actual educator as the founder and CEO. She understands the concepts just as much as she understands how to manage the company. Since we are in the beginning stages, it has been hard to find reliable tutors, so India created a profile and got on the clock. Working with the students while simultaneously operating the entire business without any help or funds has been difficult. It is not easy at all, and she looks forward to the day where she can focus on one area and not have to wear so many hats. Until that day comes, she is willing to do whatever it takes to make Learn Plus Tutor a top online tutoring platform. Learn Plus Tutor offers the tutors, independent contractors the lowest commission fees compared to similar companies, and we would like it to stay this way. We also provide our learners the option of affordable tutors, capping our tutors at a specific price point.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I view risk-taking as a necessary evil; no risk, no reward. I have taken a few risks. I took the chance to move to Georgia alone, which was a great decision as I have grown spiritually and in my career. I also risk starting a small company in the middle of the pandemic, which has been challenging and time-consuming. Overall, I believe in taking some risks as it is the only way to grow truly.
Contact Info:
- Email: india@learnplustutor.com
- Website: www.learnplustutor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learnplustutor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learnplustutoronline/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/india.chrishon/
