Don't let students walk all over you. If you are being intimidated, mocked, or otherwise harassed by a student, get up and leave. Students need to respect the service you're providing for them and treat you appropriately. Harrassment in any form is treated severely by educational institutions and you are entitled to the same treatment as any tutor, TA, or professor. It is very difficult to know the intentions of troublemakers when you talk to them over the phone.
Tutors face many challenges and obstacles.
Whether voluntary or not, you should try to be as prepared as possible. No student wants to wait an hour while their tutor tries to remember how to do long division. Don't kill yourself in the preparation, but remember that there is no such thing as over-preparation for a tutoring session. The Volunteer Tutoring Home Page Created on July 26, 2000.