One on One-derful

Team sports, going out for a group of friends, a lively debate in a large university lecture forum, an overflowing and enthusiastic Zumba class, scores of pipsqueaks mincing about in pre-school -- there is nothing like the vibrancy and energy that comes from large group activities. At the other end of the spectrum is the one-on-one experience, a concept that is becoming rarer as academic class sizes balloon and more and more people are spending more and more time interacting remotely online.

Among September’s observances, is the celebration of One-on-One month -- what a lovely idea, that of giving pause and heed to one-on-one, person-to-person interaction. But this sort of connection is not confined to cozy, dimly lit dates. There are a variety of scenarios where personal attention has resulted in increased well-being, success or self-esteem, and the formation of a meaningful relationship built on mutual respect trust. These run the gamut from personal coaching in sports to psychotherapy to Catholic confession. Herein we will briefly touch on two of the most popular forms of one-on-one interaction.

Tutoring 
Tutorzilla states, “The definition of a tutor is: ‘One who is acts as a private teacher and is charged with the instruction and guidance of another’. A tutor can also be defined as: ‘A private instructor or coach who gives additional, special, or remedial instruction.  

Whatever the definition, at some point or other in our academic lives, almost everyone needs a tutor.  Even the brightest kids may have one troublesome subject, or maybe they just need a little extra boost to get the higher grade and get into the college of their choice.  With the fierce competition to get into good schools, a little algebra tutoring, calculus tutoring, or science tutoring may be just what you or your student needs.”

Personal Trainers 
Now a mainstream commodity, the success rate of personal training is well-documented. So much so, that even the budget-conscious consider this kind of investment prudent. In the article, Do You Need a Personal Trainer? 10 Reasons a trainer may be right for you, author Elizabeth Quinn details the following benefits of employing a trainer to work with you one-on-one:

A young Bruce Lee with his teacher, Yip Man

• Motivation 
• Individualized program 
• Efficiency 
• Improve technical skills 
• You are new to exercise 
• Break through plateaus 
• Learn how to go it alone 
• Workout Safely 
• Workout at home 
• Lose Weight

Whether or not you are seeking to excel in academia or sports, chances are you can benefit from taking the time to engage with others, especially loved ones, one on one. Just showing up is not enough however. To get the most out of the experience you must put in the effort the occasion calls for and deserves. This means eliminating distractions, turning off your electronics and tuning into the other person. You will learn volumes about the person you are giving your attention to... and you just may learn a little something about yourself.