Zachary Babasa

Biography

My goal as a tutor is to help students learn to love learning and build a foundation of skills, curiosity, and consistency that they can carry throughout their academic careers and beyond. As a passionate and driven learner myself, I hope to inspire that same independent, lifelong commitment to learning in my students. My own curiosity led me to the University of Maryland, College Park, where I graduated in just two years with a B.S. in Animal Science. I’ve always been drawn to understanding how things work, why they work, and how they connect to a bigger picture. I find it especially rewarding when individual facts come together to form a deeper understanding, opening the door to new questions and discoveries.

I enjoy working through challenging concepts and finding connections that make them easier to understand. Rather than simply guiding students toward the right answer, I want to help them understand the reasoning behind it and apply that knowledge to new problems. My goal is to encourage students to look beyond memorization, think critically, and approach unfamiliar concepts with curiosity rather than apprehension.

My teaching experience began at the U.S. Kuo Shu Academy in Owings Mills, Maryland, where I trained and competed in traditional Chinese kung fu before joining the youth leadership program and becoming an instructor. It was especially meaningful to hear from parents that their children were applying the discipline and persistence they developed through kung fu to other areas of their lives. Later, as an undergraduate teaching assistant at the University of Maryland, I helped students learn about animal physiology, nutrition, reproduction, and husbandry. Teaching these subjects involved breaking down complex biological concepts while emphasizing the care, attention, and responsibility required when working directly with animals. Whether teaching a physical skill or a scientific concept, I find it rewarding to help students move beyond following instructions and develop the confidence to apply their knowledge independently.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy bouldering, hiking, drawing, and karaoke! I’ve also played piano independently for over a decade, and I particularly enjoy jazz, R&B, and hip-hop.