Samuel Habib

I first became interested in tutoring when I joined an after school volunteering program at my high school. I discovered that the experience of helping others achieve their goals and master topics was immensely satisfying. As I honed my ability to break down complex concepts into fundamental levels, I realized that this skill not only benefited my students but also influenced how I approached new students with diverse learning styles. My students’ unique perspectives and ways of viewing concepts were invaluable to me and continually enriched my own understanding of teaching.

I was born and raised in San Jose, California, and attended Valley Christian High School. Upon graduating, I pursued my undergraduate education at Santa Clara University, where I majored in biology and biotechnology. My interest in biology and chemistry stemmed from their significance in the field of medicine, and my college coursework sparked my enthusiasm as I learned about their real-world relevance and applications.

During high school, I volunteered at Hellyer Elementary, providing K-6th grade students with assistance in their math and English coursework. I went on to develop chemistry lesson plans for students taking STEM courses in Sacramento middle schools, and gave virtual tutoring sessions for students struggling with algebra as a member of the Square Root Academy. I also worked with Santa Maria Urban Ministry, where I helped Spanish-speaking students in math coursework.

My tutoring philosophy is founded on the idea that learning concepts should come second to having a solid foundation in the subject at hand. Students cannot learn new material if they do not understand previous topics on which it relies. I gauge what my student already understands and build up to higher-level concepts through connections to familiar concepts. Advanced placement coursework in particular exposes students to lots of information in a short amount of time, and focusing on expanding upon what is already known makes learning new ideas far easier.

In my free time, I like to produce digital music, play the guitar, work out, and work on cars with my friends.