Samantha Crimmins

I was born in Virginia, but I was raised and educated like a global nomad. I had the privilege of living in Virginia, Florida, Spain, California, Alaska, and Hawaii before I’d turned eighteen. I transitioned from a community college to a state university to a private university through academic scholarship, a genuine hunger for knowledge, and just the right community of support to foster that growth. I ultimately earned my bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from Northeastern University.

As a young learner, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by educators who recognized my passions and who helped me gain access to the resources and opportunities that would develop them. These opportunities included two consecutive summers as a teacher’s aid at government-funded primary schools in Vietnam and one premedical course designed for high school students in partnership with Tufts University. I am grateful for these experiences because they unveiled a passion for education and community-building.

In college, these passions progressed into roles with the AmeriCorps Jumpstart program, where I worked as a language and literacy aid in the preschool setting; as a Rookie Rugby coach organizing inner-city Boston-youth athletes; and as a volunteer tutor with Artists for Humanity, the organization that services under-resourced teens striving to create social change through art and empowerment. My tutoring approach and philosophy was built from the foundation of these influences: I believe that our passions are tremendous driving forces that expand our scope of knowledge to include more diverse definitions of success.

I am enthusiastic about the one-on-one tutoring approach because I believe that this format offers the most customizable approach to individualized sessions. It’s exciting to work with students who have a distinct or preferred learning style and to adapt each lesson so that it is impactful for multiple learners. Biology is particularly enjoyable because it’s a subject with such a rich history to relate the information back to! I enjoy helping my students not only master the concepts but also understand the connections between them and their relevance in the scope of our lives. I also enjoy coaching students on their English skills, developing their critical reading and writing. I believe that these elements underlie success in any field they pursue.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy exploring the outdoors (usually in the form of hiking, kayaking, or camping),and probing my creative side writing a novel or working on a painting.