Charlin Duff

Biography

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, but spent the better part of a decade among the redwood trees and cloudy coasts of Humboldt where I received my bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Humboldt with a major in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science. After completing my bachelor’s, I worked as a data analyst which inspired me to pursue a graduate degree. Currently, I am a student at San Jose State University working towards my Master’s in Statistics with a focus in Machine Learning.

My tutoring experience comes from my undergraduate studies where I coached a few friends through college algebra and trigonometry. There is nothing better than seeing someone’s face light up as all the pieces fall into place and a concept finally “clicks” in their brain. I also helped build out Cal Poly Humboldt’s supercomputer, and wrote one of the first complex programs to run on the computer. This positioned me as a resource for other students who wanted to get involved with writing supercomputer programs. It felt great to share my passion with others, helping them understand tricky concepts and troubleshoot complex problems.

I believe one-on-one tutoring is the most effective way to teach. Being able to give individualized support and tailor lessons to a student’s interests and learning style sets them up for success even through the most challenging concepts. I always encourage students to ask questions no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant. It’s normal to not understand a concept the first time you see it. If there’s one thing years of studying mathematics has taught me it’s that resilience is the key to success. Leaning on academic resources, peers, and frequent practice is key to mastering concepts and strengthening networks. Knowledge is meant to be shared!

In my free time I enjoy creating art, mainly printmaking and sewing projects. I am also a big fan of video games. I built my own PC and am an undefeated Mario Kart champion among friends and family. Finally, I love to keep learning! I especially love to read books from other academic disciplines, namely psychology and anthropology.