Falak Vakharia

Biography

I grew up in Fremont surrounded by people who loved learning and were always looking for new challenges. Taking on the SAT and the AP Calculus test were some of my earliest challenges that showed me just how rewarding learning can be. I scored a 1560 (with a perfect 800 in math) and a 5 on the AP Calculus BC test. Math had always been my favorite subject, and those tests proved it to me. 

I went off to college at UC Davis, and graduated summa cum laude with a double B.S. in Applied Physics and Computer Science. After graduation, I thought about where my knowledge could have the most positive impact, and I chose tutoring. Much of my time at university was spent tutoring calculus, where I got a front-row seat to the starting path of future engineers, pre-law students, and pre-med students as they built their foundations in mathematics. Watching such a wide variety of people grow through learning is what cemented the importance of acquiring knowledge and having a genuine growth mindset.

I began tutoring in college as a sophomore, and by junior year I’d worked my way up to Head Subject Tutor for calculus, where I put together materials for other tutors and paired observations with regular feedback sessions to help sharpen their teaching skills. As a senior, I stepped into the role of Lead Tutor. My role was reading applications, interviewing prospective tutors, and welcoming new tutors through orientation. My favorite part of the job was always the same: watching my students and my tutors grow more confident as their knowledge and skills developed.

For me, tutoring has always been about the innate joy of learning. There is so much to know and learn, and I love sharing what excites me the most. Math especially has always felt like it’s full of hidden gems that I think everyone would find awe-inspiring, if they just had the right foundation and guidance.

When I’m not teaching, you’ll usually find me buried in a good novel or crocheting. I also like to try out new recipes when I have the time to experiment.