As I grew up in Cupertino, my grandmother helped foster my love of books by taking me to the library on a weekly basis. In high school I began to pass on this love of reading by working as an English and reading tutor for middle school students as well as a writing tutor for underclassmen students. 

I studied psychology at UCSB, where I continued working with young children at the UCSB Children’s Center. I acted as a teaching assistant for daycare classrooms of 10-15 preschoolers. I also participated in my university’s child studies laboratory as a research assistant. Both of these experiences helped me develop strong communication skills and patience with young children, who often need a lot of support and positive affirmations. More importantly, these experiences reminded me of my own childhood and gave me a deeper appreciation for the curiosity and desire to learn that young children have.

English and writing are my favorite subjects to teach because I see these subjects fundamentally as communication skills rather than subjects that are strictly academic. My childhood library trips had granted me a lively imagination but failed to provide the skills I needed to share these ideas with the world. When I was growing up I was often the quiet kid in class because I had so many ideas jumping around in my head that I didn’t know how to communicate them coherently. It was due to my high school English teachers that I learned how to organize my thoughts and present my ideas through writing. I believe that every student has amazing ideas and that strength in writing is imperative for building their confidence in their ability to express themselves.

Whether I’m teaching students writing or math, however, I believe that as a tutor, creating strong personal relationships with students is one of the best ways to bolster their self-confidence and help them achieve success. My experiences working with children in elementary, middle, and high school have left me with the skills to shape the learning process to be both productive and fun. I work to produce results while leaving students with a sense of confidence and motivation that ensures their lifelong success. 

I also have experience working as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) providing 1-on-1 instructional therapy sessions to preschool-aged children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I implement individualized lesson plans, focusing on basic life and communication skills, and I utilize positive reinforcement principles that create a fun and interactive learning environment for the kids. I personally think the most valuable part of this work is how it has helped me develop a deeper understanding of children’s motivation and how their self-confidence can lead to both academic and social success.