Elan Zankman

I was born and raised in the Bay Area before traveling across the country to attend the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary linguistics.

Growing up, I was fortunate to attend great public schools with an abundance of teachers who loved what they taught and instilled a passion for learning in their students. Being in that environment allowed me to foster a healthy respect for all subjects across the board, from math and science to English and Spanish and beyond. However, while I had a strong foundation of knowledge in a variety of areas, none stood above the rest as a field that I truly loved and wanted to pursue in college or in my future career.

That all changed during my first year of college, when I took a class called Languages of the World. I entered the professor’s office one day with a simple question, and we spent the next three hours talking about the structure of words. In that conversation, I discovered my love for language. I dedicated my studies to learning everything I could about the framework that underlies all human communication. From there, I narrowed my focus back to English, where I explored the nature of reading and writing as not only an art, but a science.

Around the same time, I began working independently as a remote tutor for the Princeton Review. While it started as just a way to earn money during college, I quickly discovered how rewarding the experience was. I had the opportunity to work with students from all walks of life, from elementary school students learning how to read and write, to adult professionals learning English as a second language, and everything in between. Each session was a totally unique experience.

Working with such a diverse array of students gave me a new perspective: I realized that the value of education is universal. It provides the foundation for every other area of life, both on an individual and a societal level, and it is useful for every person regardless of who they are or what they are doing. As a result, I believe that all students should have the resources they need to get the most out of their education. My passion for tutoring came from the realization that I can help provide students with a bridge to success, and I particularly enjoy coaching students on their SAT and ACT exams to help students open doors for new opportunities and master critical thinking and test taking skills that will help them succeed both on the exams and in the future.

When I am not tutoring, I love to play basketball at my local park. I also enjoy relaxed evenings of cooking and playing board games.