Lily Tsurumoto

Biography

Growing up, I’ve always had a love for learning. I especially enjoyed learning about different cultures and communities. It was fascinating to me how diverse the world was while also maintaining a common thread of humanity. My love of learning led me to seek higher education and I enrolled at West Valley College, eventually transferring to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to complete a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology.

I credit my academic success to my mother who always tried to foster my growth in knowledge and creativity. With much of my family coming from areas of the United States with historically low literacy rates, I was always instilled with the importance of education in advocating for yourself and others. It is due to this value that I realized my passion for empowering students to thrive in their own academic journeys.

While at West Valley College, I served as a peer tutor for 3 years in several subjects such as Anthropology, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Reading, and Writing. I have tutored a variety of clientele including students with English as second language and students with learning disabilities. I am a firm proponent of the idea that all students have the potential to meaningfully improve in their goals. I believe that AJ tutoring provides a unique and exceptional service in nurturing each individual student’s growth.

At AJ, I am excited to provide support to students K-8 in developing their study skills with foundational techniques and strategies that will help them overcome challenges for the rest of their academic careers. For me, it is truly rewarding to watch my students excel in their educational goals and gain confidence in their own intelligence and ability to learn. My goal is for all my students to find satisfaction and even joy in their academics.

In my free time I am writing stories, listening to new songs, and oil painting portraits of people and pets. I was born and raised in San Jose and love exploring the city and neighboring towns, whether it’s trying a new cafe or visiting a local art fair. My favorite food is Ethiopian, my favorite music is 70’s Pop, and my favorite movie genre is animation.