I was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston where I attended a large high school. My education continued through college at the University of Pennsylvania where I studied economics and American history. I also completed most of a second bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Boston University after graduating from Penn. Having moved to the Bay Area to work with an economist at Stanford on his consulting practice, I began taking advanced math courses at UC Berkeley in order to complete prerequisites for graduate school in economics. 

I’m a lifelong learner. My interest in academics began at an early age, initially sparked by my parents, and I’ve enjoyed math since elementary school. At first, I liked solving equations, and later I enjoyed writing proofs. Now, I like to see the excitement on a student’s face when they master a new math topic. 

Prior to coming to AJ Tutoring, I spent five years tutoring students from private schools in San Francisco. In addition to tutoring academic math, I also coached students on the SAT and high school entrance exams. At AJ Tutoring, I specialize in tutoring calculus and statistics, and I enjoy helping students in their upper level math classes master the skills and techniques they need to be successful not only in their current class but also in their upcoming college years. In addition to helping students solidify their grasp of the concepts themselves, I also work with them to develop positive test preparation and test taking habits. I understand that each student approaches the material in a different way, and it’s important to me to adapt to each student’s learning style and goals to help them achieve success. 

Many of Berkeley’s math courses are oriented around proofs, and the strategies I’ve learned in these classes also offer invaluable training for developing students’ critical thinking skills. I enjoy passing along the lessons I’ve learned in my own studies to my students, and I believe in the importance of developing strong problem solving skills. No matter how well a student understands a concept in theory, if they can’t apply it to a variety of situations, they will struggle on assignments and exams.

Over all, I want my students to develop the confidence to approach new material and the study skills that will lead them to success both in high school and college.