Fun Facts

My three favorite things to do are backpacking, frisbee, and chess. Every break I have I gather my friends to explore some new part of California with only our boots and our bags. As the oldest of three, I was born in Colorado but came to California for college. Although I am largely devoid of musical talent I have been recently attempting to learn the guitar.

About Me

I attend Santa Clara University where I major in English and Political Science. In my last quarter of college I have a 3.84 GPA and am currently in the running for valedictorian. Upon graduation I hope to continue tutoring part time while exploring a few other career options including becoming a full time teacher. However, I am in no rush to jump on the career path and plan on continuing to grow both personally and intellectually before I choose a job that will, in large part, define my life from 9 to 5.

I first started tutoring in my sophomore year at Santa Clara University where I work with the children of some of the faculty and staff. For two and a half years I have worked with a dyslexic girl named Jade, focusing on algebra, writing, and basic study skills. I also work with a middle school girl named Dipshraya, focusing on standardized tests and test taking skills. I also help my peers with their writing skills and a writing partner (a form of peer-tutor) at SCU's writing center. Although I am most qualified to help students with reading and writing, I also enjoy tutoring math up through pre-algebra and have two and a half years of experience in this field.

Working with students at all levels I have come to realize that one explanation rarely does an adequate job explaining complex ideas to a diverse array of students. As a tutor I strive to find the best way to help students grasp ideas, often trying two or three different ways to explain a single concept. Working with students repeatedly, I can usually grasp what style of tutoring is most effective, and I enjoy the creative challenge of finding new ways to explain ideas. Further, I believe structure is necessary to build fundamental skills in all kinds of education from writing to math, and I try my best to provide coherent and simple templates for tackling problems.