Persabel Tesfay

Biography

I first started tutoring almost by accident. I would help kids in my neighborhood with their schoolwork, and I found that I genuinely enjoyed figuring out how to explain things in a way that made sense to them. In high school, I started doing the same for my friends, especially when they were struggling with studying or couldn’t quite connect with the way something was being taught in class. Eventually, I realized that tutoring was something I really enjoyed, and I began doing it as a part-time job during my undergraduate studies.

Over time, I’ve learned that struggling in a class doesn’t necessarily mean a student doesn’t understand the material. Sometimes, the explanation just isn’t the right one for that particular student. Not every teacher’s teaching style will work for every student, and I really enjoy helping students find another way to approach a concept when the first explanation doesn’t click. I like getting to know how a student thinks and then figuring out what might work best for them.

My own education has also given me a pretty broad academic background. I grew up in Asmara, Eritrea, and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine before continuing my education in the United States. I am now studying Neuroscience on a pre-med track. Having studied across different areas of science has taught me how to approach challenging material from different angles, and it has made me appreciate how important it is to find a learning method that works for you.

One of my favorite parts of tutoring is coming up with the strange little connections that make something finally stick. My brain naturally creates mnemonics and analogies when I’m trying to understand something, and I love sharing those with my students. I’ll often connect a complicated concept to something from everyday life or come up with a memorable way to think about it. For me, one of the best moments in tutoring is when I can see that something has finally clicked for a student and they go from “I don’t get it” to “Oh, now I understand!”

Ultimately, I want my students to leave a session feeling like they are more capable than they thought they were. Of course, getting a better grade or preparing for an exam is important, but I also want students to develop ways of learning that they can continue using on their own.

Outside of tutoring and school, I like to stay active through hiking and boxing. I also enjoy watching crime documentaries and shows, listening to music, and learning languages. I’m currently learning Spanish myself, which has been a fun reminder that being a beginner is part of the learning process too!