After growing up in the Bay Area and graduating from San Ramon Valley High School, I attended UC Berkeley and received my degree in Integrative Biology. During my studies, I had the opportunity to take a wide variety of biology classes, including courses on general biology, biophysical chemistry, evolutionary medicine, human physiology, medical ethnobotany, and ecosystems of California. As an undergraduate, I was also introduced to research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where I worked with bacteria that could produce electricity.

Afterwards, I continued research at USC, where I performed experiments on similar bacteria capable of Extracellular Electron Transfer (EET), a process in which bacteria “breathe” by moving electrons from inside their cells to solid acceptors outside their membranes. My experience contributing to knowledge through scientific publications has given me unique insight into how critical thinking learned in school can be applied to making discoveries in a practical sense. In addition, giving presentations on original research allowed me to practice explaining complicated subjects in a way that is easy for a variety of audiences to understand. I believe these skills translate well to teaching in an academic setting, where my goal is not only to help my students succeed in their classes, but also to learn to think in a way that is useful for solving real-world problems.

Besides my desire to share my love of science with the next generation of Bay Area students, there are several other reasons why I chose to join the AJ tutoring team. I enjoy teaching students one-on-one and providing an environment where they can ask as many questions as they like. It is rewarding to follow my students’ improvement over time and see them eventually reach long-term goals.

In addition to tutoring chemistry and biology, I also enjoy helping students with the SAT. While in Berkeley, I volunteered as a teacher at People’s Test Preparation Service (PTPS), where I provided students at Berkeley High with instruction on the critical reading and writing sections of the SAT. I understand how important standardized tests can be for gaining admittance to college, and I hope to provide students of all backgrounds with the test-taking and study skills they need to reach their full potential.

In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, board games, and reading. I’m always happy to
spend time outside and explore California’s beaches, mountains, and deserts.