Meet Bria Ogundele | Owner & Tutor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bria Ogundele and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bria, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow,” – 1 Corinthians 3:7

This is the anchor scripture for First Things First Tutoring and an anchor scripture for my life. Reminding myself of this truth removes the pressure to do all things and be all things. This scripture evokes a sense of gratitude for the gifts that I have been given to glorify God and to serve others. I can feel confident, after a long day of tutoring, that I have “planted” and “watered” to the best of my ability. I can rest.

What should our readers know about your business?
“Literacy is the key to self-sufficiency.” – Unknown

As I sat in my classroom after walking my fifth graders to gym class, I fought back tears. My babies were months away from the middle school, and the majority of them were not proficient readers. They were not on a path to self-sufficiency. I felt as though my hands were tied. I knew for certain that what I was be told to do doing was not best for them.

This is why First Things First Tutoring was born. I am on a mission to partner with parents who:
1. Have a desire for their young children to have a strong reading foundation
2. Are sick and tired of watching their children struggle with reading and are committed to the process of closing the gaps

FTF provides engaging, systematic, online reading instruction for children in grades K-5. (They have so much fun while learning and often don’t want the session to end.) The tremendous growth is a direct result of the genuine relationships that I work hard to establish with each child. Whether it’s noticing a new pair of glasses, asking about the results of a spelling test, or sending a “Happy Birthday” text, connecting with FTFKids is extremely important to me.

As a solopreneur, wearing all of the “hats” challenges me at times. I overcome this challenge by talking through my short and long-term goals with my accountability partner and creating a plan of action that will enable me to take steps towards the completion of the goals.

Through it all, I am honored to be on this journey and am thrilled about what is to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely love the city of Atlanta and love exploring all that it has to offer! Check out our itinerary below:

Wednesday:
– Morning walk/exercise in Westside Reservoir Park
– Lunch at Doc Chey’s
– Visit the High Museum of Art

Thursday:
– Shopping/Lunch at Atlantic Station
– Visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens
– Night out at Top Golf/Puttshack

Friday:
– Morning walk/exercise on the Atlanta Beltline/Piedmont Park
– Lunch and shopping at Ponce City Market
– Dinner/night out at Politan Row at Colony Square

Saturday:
– Morning hike up Stone Mountain
– Visit the Georgia Aquarium
– Night out at The Battery/Punch Bowl Social

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband has played a major role in the success of First Things First Tutoring. Before the business was launched into the world, he was my sounding board; always lending an ear as I buried him in all of my ideas and asked for his advice on almost everything. He encouraged me to pursue what I knew God was calling me to do and reassured me that he would take care of our financial responsibilities. My husband is not perfect, but he is a man of his word and has done just that.

With growth comes discomfort, growing pains. In the moments when I have felt like giving up, my husband has been there to offer an abundance of love and support. Having him as my life partner is such a blessing. I am forever grateful.

Website: www.ftftutoring.com

Instagram: @mrsogundele_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bria-ogundele

Image Credits
Carlos Santos