Joseph Tong

I was born and raised in San Jose, California, where I developed my passion for teaching by tutoring my peers on math concepts ranging from pre-algebra to math 2 and enjoying their “aha” moments.

Growing up, I was interested in biology due to its fascinating complexity, and I read biology books from the public library in my free time. I attended UC Davis, where I majored in biomedical engineering, and within my collegiate courses, I focused on biology, taking courses on organic chemistry, immunology, and biochemistry.

At UC Davis, I furthered my passion for teaching through tutoring my peers in calculus. I spent hours in the study rooms reviewing practice problems and studying for upcoming exams. My students took turns doing problems on whiteboards to ensure everyone had a chance to practice the concept and take a shot at finding the solution. I also joined a lab group, where I taught wet lab research techniques and helped students gain confidence in performing research while mastering practical skills for their future research endeavors.

My tutoring philosophy is to help students develop a deeper understanding of math and calculus that will allow them to adjust to various scenarios. I understand the struggle of understanding calculus, and believe in the importance of practicing problems while developing one’s understanding of the concepts. For studying biology, I emphasize the importance of breaking down steps before looking at the bigger picture. I have success helping students who are in need of understanding, being a patient but firm figure to help them understand complex concepts while not feeling the need to be stressed or under pressure.

In my free time, I enjoy reading books and learning programming. I also enjoy gardening and cooking new recipes.