Dr. Rozetta Schaeffer

I am the Director of the Youth Ministry at Seminary Baptist Church, Paterson, and I collaborate with Uplift Academy to provide college preparation classes for High School Students and math tutoring for Junior High students. The College Path Mentorship is a wonderful program that provides the opportunity for high school students to learn academically in small classes, to meet diverse students and learn to negotiate and appreciate the positive power of difference and to learn to give back to the community by participating in community service activities.  Junior high students receive small groups and one-to-one tutoring in math to develop their math skills.

Many of the high school students have increased their SAT scores, have become more socially involved, and have developed broader interests beyond their grades. An example of this is a shy young man who began the program as a Junior and initially was unable to hold conversations with classmates. and was so anxious about his abilities that he was unable to produce good test scores.  The small class allowed him to make friends; the encouragement from classmates and his teachers was exactly what he needed to develop more confidence in himself. During his senior year, he was able to produce at a higher level in school, he retook the SAT Exam and increased his scores, and he became more actively social. He was accepted into a four-year college and is doing well. It is important to note that he has also maintained contact with a couple of his classmates from this program.

A youngster in the math tutoring class became so invested in his learning that he also attended our Summer Math Boot Camp. When he began the program, he was close to failing. He was able to develop his math skills sufficiently to be promoted, and he is able to ask for help when needed. He is performing well this semester.

Without these programs, the students may not have been able to realize their potential and succeed. This is a volunteer position for me; however, I am well paid when I see them socializing and encouraging each other, when I receive an excited telephone call with the message, “Dr. Schaeffer, I did it. I got accepted” at a school of his/her choice, or when a student asks me to write a letter of recommendation. This is a wonderful program for the students and staff.

Dr. Rozetta Schaeffer
Director, Seminary Baptist Church Youth Ministry.