I started volunteering with the International Institute in January 2012. Once a week, I help tutor immigrants who are preparing to take the citizenship test. The students' stories of how they came to be in America never fail to inspire me, and their enthusiasm for becoming American citizens reminds me what a privilege it is to live here. My regular job is teaching high school, and there have been many nights when I get home exhausted and think about maybe not volunteering that night. I always go, and I'm always rewarded many times over by the students who are so eager to learn and appreciative for help. Likewise, the compassion and dedication of the teachers and other volunteers at the Institute renew my faith in people. The International Institute provides invaluable services for immigrants and refugees who find themselves alone and afraid in a new country.