Alex Wong

Biography

I’ve loved math for as long as I can remember. In fact, one of my earliest memories is asking for math worksheets to do in preschool! That early curiosity eventually led me to earn a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UCLA, then continue on to graduate school at the University of Florida, where I earned a master’s degree in the same subject. My time in graduate school gave me an opportunity to explore mathematics at a much deeper level, while also discovering how much I enjoy helping other people understand it.

As a graduate student at UF, I taught and led discussion sessions for a variety of mathematics courses. While I enjoyed teaching and leading discussions, I found that I was especially drawn to the individual interactions I had with students during office hours and at the tutoring center. I love being able to sit down with a student, figure out where they are getting stuck, and find an approach that makes the material click. It is incredibly rewarding to see a student make progress, whether that means finally understanding a concept after struggling with it for weeks, or gradually becoming more confident over the course of a school year.

My favorite part of tutoring is helping students realize that being good at math isn’t just about getting the right answer. I want my students to understand why something works and to become comfortable working through problems that they don’t immediately know how to solve. I try to challenge students to think for themselves, stepping in to guide and support them only when they need it. Every student approaches mathematics differently, so I enjoy adapting my explanations and questions to find what works best for each person.

As a tutor, I love sharing what I find beautiful about mathematics and helping students develop both their skills and their confidence. Some of the most satisfying moments I’ve had as a tutor have been seeing students solve problems using ideas that they used to struggle with.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy playing badminton, running, and learning covers of movie soundtracks on the piano; How to Train Your Dragon is amazing!