I was born in Petaluma, grew up in the South Bay, and spent my high-school years in Sonora, near Yosemite. For three years, I worked as a math and computer science tutor at Columbia College, and then I transferred to UC Berkeley, where I earned my degree in computer science. I worked for four years as a software engineer at Google and C3.ai, but I never found the level of fulfillment that I got from tutoring, so I changed course to follow my true passion.
I love tutoring because it gives me a chance to show students how capable and confident they can be academically. I want to help students meet their academic goals, but I also want them to love learning, to take control of their academic futures, and to reach their full potential. I believe that with sufficient support and engagement, every student is capable of achieving results that they didn’t think possible.
At AJ Tutoring I specialize in math, and I particularly enjoy tutoring algebra. Many students find algebra tricky, and it’s an essential stepping stone to upper level math. Luckily, I know all the tricks, and I know how to teach them to others. Whether a student is a little shaky or totally lost, I assess their level of understanding and ensure that we approach material in such a way that their confidence and understanding become rock-solid. Crystal-clear examples and plain explanations can take a student from feeling confused or frustrated to feeling confidently in command of the material.
Outside of tutoring, I love hiking through the hills, studying philosophy and psychology, watching movies, and spending quality time with my wife and family.