Growing up here in the Bay Area, I was always creatively occupied—painting, making accessories out of duct tape, making jewelry, playing music, or dancing. For a long time, I had ambitions of being a creative writer because of my love for words and stories, but I found that in school I excelled most at my least favorite subject, math.

My passion for all things creative paired with my natural affinity for logical thought processes led me to pursue a profession that combines these two sides of my brain: architecture. I earned my Bachelor of Architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Spending countless days and late nights in the studio coming up with building and spatial designs that honored aesthetics alongside environmental parameters, the push on my creativity led me to also seek courses that had one ‘right answer’ at the end of the day, and I earned a minor in architectural engineering. To stay in touch with my love of the performing arts, I pursued a minor in music and developed my skills at playing the oboe. Because of my compulsion for constant learning, my educational experience required me to hone my skills in time management to achieve all of my educational goals.

For over seven years, I have been a practicing architectural designer in San Francisco, working on a variety of projects from airport terminals, to residential, to local restaurants. I bring design thinking skills to all aspects of my life, and I approach with a lens that inspects a problem from all angles. Through my education in design school, I realized that people absorb concepts and solve problems in a variety of ways, and that given the right tools and encouragement there is no stopping a student’s potential. I love to share my passion for problem-solving and learning through mentorship and education, especially with those who feel like they do not fit into the standard educational systems. In the past, I have worked in mentorship programs, guiding students in underserved areas to achieve their college and post-secondary pursuits. 

At AJ Tutoring, I enjoy working with my elementary and middle school students to make learning fun and provide a solid foundation in their academics. My goal as a tutor is to get to know each student personally to help them to know themselves better, identify what works for their learning process, and set up tools that enable them to achieve their best. The 1-on-1 setting of tutoring is ideal for this. Though school and learning can be daunting, I aim to be a supportive mentor and peer that can provide partnership, and I am energized by the idea of unlocking the full potential of every individual student’s best self!

When I’m not tutoring, you’ll find me outside hiking the lovely Bay Area trails, selling veggies at the farmers’ market, listening to and playing music, or dancing salsa!