When a teacher expects their student to succeed, that belief will shape the support, encouragement, and attention they provide for the student. The student internalizes this support, builds confidence, and in turn, cultivates achievement. In psychology, this is known as the Pygmalion effect.
For private educator Starlyte Harris, it is the foundation for her small business. Starlyte’s approach to tutoring has never been solely about earning high marks or passing exams; it has lent itself to understanding how confidence shapes far more than academic performance. With over 10,000 hours of tutoring experience through her small business, Ivy League Tutor, Starlyte has witnessed the long-term impact of holistic support.
“I would hear about the stress that students felt as an aftermath of not doing well in class,” Starlyte explains. “They would start to have behavioral issues, or start acting out, maybe because they were trying to make up for not feeling seen or feeling like they weren’t enough in the classroom.”
Starlyte has ensured that Ivy League Tutor interrupts this cycle. Pairing individualized academic instruction with mentorship and personal support, she creates space for students to strengthen their skills while building the confidence to succeed. Starlyte reflects, “That’s the thing about confidence: by being able to feel that you are competent, that you are enough, and that you are smart, this is what can help you to excel.”
For CitizensNYC and M&T Bank, supporting small businesses across the Bronx means investing in leaders who understand their communities and the needs of the people they serve. These businesses do far more than generate revenue; they serve as neighborhood resources, trusted networks, and in the case of Ivy League Tutor, as a place where students can access the support they need to thrive.
And when small businesses grow, their community impact follows suit. Through CitizensNYC’s partnership with M&T Bank, Starlyte and Ivy League Tutor are receiving the flexible funding needed to expand their reach, connect with more families, and bring individualized tutoring to more students across the Bronx.
The Pygmalion effect extends beyond the classroom. CitizensNYC’s partnership with M&T Bank allows us to invest in small businesses we believe in, putting resources behind the knowledge, relationships, and existing ideas already taking root in the Bronx.
