Julia Thyfault

Growing up in a family of history buffs, I was just as likely to be running through history museums as running through a playground. Lists of major dates and names transformed into captivating stories that endlessly fascinated me and sent me hunting for more historical mysteries. This passion for finding academic mysteries translated into discovering how meaningful education can be in anyone’s life.

Despite my lifetime in the Bay Area, I braved the snow to attend Wellesley College in Massachusetts. I settled on a peace and justice studies major: a combination of sociology and political science. I minored in American history as well, using my study of the past to look at modern problems. I also saw the power of good education in making a positive impact on my community.

I had spent my time in high school tutoring my classmates and my little sister’s friends in everything from sixth grade science to American history. Each of the people that I taught had very different aspects of the work they struggled with, teaching me to find unique approaches to the material. Then as a counselor and director at a STEM and art summer camp, I learned to absorb unfamiliar content and make it into lessons that gave elementary schoolers an interest in science. I grew more adaptable as my students changed on a weekly basis, coming with varying levels of education or interest.

My many experiences with 1-on-1 tutoring allow me to approach my students with an open mind to find what works for them. I’ve discovered that individualized education is needed for students to connect with the material and continue to learn from it: you cannot force students to only learn your way if you want them to learn beyond rote memorization. As an educator, I want tutoring to be an opportunity for students to engage and become excited to learn with me.

When I am not at AJ, I am attempting to bake new recipes, exploring a video game, or immersing myself in another fantasy book.