Falak Vakharia

Biography

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

I went off to UC Davis, and I graduated summa cum laude from UC Davis with a double B.S. in Applied Physics and Computer Science (and a 3.95 GPA, plus a physics department citation for outstanding performance). After graduation, I spent time trying to figure out where my knowledge could have the most positive impact, and I landed on tutoring. Much of my time at Davis 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 knowledge and a genuine growth mindset.

I began tutoring 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.

For me, tutoring has always come back to the joy of learning itself. There’s so much knowledge in the world, and I love sharing the parts of it that excite me most. Math especially has always felt like it’s full of hidden gems that I think everyone would find awe-inspiring if they have the right foundation and guidance.

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