Ryan Li

Biography

A Bay Area local and boba enthusiast, I attended Monta Vista High School and am no stranger to the level of academic competition here. Seeking to experience life outside California, I moved to the South to major in Molecular & Cellular Biology at Vanderbilt University. There, I spent four years with Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, leading small teams to teach hands-on labs at local public schools. This program sparked my passion for education, which ultimately led me to join AJ Tutoring after graduation.

Having tutored hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds, ranging from those rebuilding foundational skills to those seeking advanced challenges, I adapt my approach using analogies and visuals. To address the modern shift in exams from rote memorization to critical reasoning, I teach students to utilize pattern recognition and revisit their assumptions to overcome obstacles. My broad subject portfolio also allows me to demonstrate how current material connects to prior knowledge and future concepts. Most importantly, I recognize that students spend the majority of their time outside of tutoring, so I collaborate closely with both students and parents to ensure we take equal ownership of their academic goals.

After taking a brief hiatus to develop a new skillset, I have returned to tutoring with the long-term goal of earning a teaching credential and an advanced degree. In my free time, I enjoy gaming with friends, though I rarely sit still for long. To stave off cabin fever, I frequent local aquariums, malls, and restaurants. I am also a car enthusiast and spend far too much time waging war against the dust on my Miata.