Whitney Porter

Biography

My desire to be a tutor goes back to my amazing high school chemistry teacher, who shaped not only the student I am today, but also my character. She sparked a fascination with the subject in me that has now come full circle, with me helping students find their own scientific spark. As I went on to earn a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology at UC Santa Cruz, I was fortunate to help do advanced research on the biochemistry of exercise, a topic which blended two of my deepest passions: science and sports. While science captured my curiosity, athletics captured another side of me entirely.

Alongside studying science at the university, I loved training and competing in track and field. Being a college student-athlete was an incomparable experience, in which athletics became an unexpected classroom of its own. Most importantly, I learned how to be coached, a perspective which I’ve now flipped around and can use to find just the right tutoring approach with each one of my students.

Some of my fondest memories at the university came from the eclectic variety of positions I held, each giving me the opportunity to mentor and support hundreds of coworkers, lab mates, teammates, and AP exam takers along the way. The best moments were when I could be that comforting presence for those who just needed a boost of confidence, and that’s still a fundamental part of what I strive to bring to each tutoring session.

Both in and out of the classroom, I consider myself an enthusiastic, positive, silly, patient, and caring individual, and I can’t help but express these qualities in all realms of my life. Growing up, I struggled with dyslexia and ADD and was always dismissed until I found the right treatment during college. To some, these facts might be considered weaknesses, but to me, they are my greatest strengths, allowing me to connect with others on a deeper level and instill the confidence in them to succeed as students and as people.

Outside of tutoring, I love swimming, exercising, crafting, hanging out with my friends, and watching the sunset.