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Helping others learn despite challenges

Kevin Takeguchi (left) is honored by Volunteer Fairfax

Two days after making his high school varsity football team, Kevin Takeguchi found out that he had a brain tumor.

In 2006, he became totally blind following surgery for the tumor and after a subsequent surgery in 2007, Kevin remains legally blind.  All of this made Kevin, now 31, more determined than ever to help young people achieve their potential.

Students in Northern Virginia who have been struggling in math are now getting better grades and are more confident than ever about learning.  One of his students who is also blind was just accepted into a local community college passing all requirements, including algebra II, which he has failed in high school.

"Now he can enroll in pre-calculus in college if he wants to," Kevin says. 

 Kevin tutors students in math two days a week at the Mott Computer Clubhouse Math Thinker Program in Fairfax, VA, where he has become known for his white cane and white board.  Beyond his work at the Clubhouse, he has been tutoring the blind student in math and algebra using Braille as well as auditory techniques.

"Math is usually learned visually more than by hearing.  This student has great auditory skills.  He is a great piano player.  So I used an auditory method of teaching him." Kevin explains.

Kevin with one of his Maththinkers

"I want to teach kids to think for themselves, so that they don't become calculator dependent.  It's a great tool, but if you put in the numbers wrong, it's not helpful.  You need to know if the answer is right. Once they learn the basic arithmetic and math skills, they realize how easy it is," says Kevin.

Alvaro Luna, manager of the Mott Computer Clubhouse, says, "I have never met someone like Kevin who has such a deep understanding of civic responsibilities.  His big heart has allowed him to overcome his physical limitations in order to help others."

Kevin recalls that he was a junior in college when he became depressed because he felt he was not doing well in his physical chemistry class.   He went to speak with one of the deans, who told him to volunteer and then he would see other people's problems and stop thinking about himself.  So he began his volunteer tutoring.  He went on to receive a degree in chemistry in 2000 from William and Mary University, and he worked in the IT field until he lost his eyesight in 2005.

When he became blind, volunteering became more of a challenge.  "It is hard for the disabled to actually find volunteer jobs.  It was hard for me.  Many times when I tried to volunteer, as soon as they saw I was blind, they rejected me.  I think it would be easier for me to find a job than to volunteer.   His current volunteering was located for him through the organization Brain Injury Services.

"I want to teach kids to have an open mind because there are opportunities out there.  They just have to open their eyes to the possibilities," says Kevin.   "I tell them if they want it, then go get it."