Biography

Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent my high school years at Harker before taking off to the East Coast to attend Wellesley College. I graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley with a major in Russian studies and a minor in English. My academic experiences consisted primarily of small classes with lots of opportunities for discussion and collaboration, including offering my peers feedback on essays and working with them to master difficult topics.

While at Wellesley, I had the opportunity to tutor students beginning their studies of the Russian language. Russian is a particularly difficult language for the English-speaking mind to grasp, so I quickly learned to adapt and think creatively to address each student’s individual struggles. I realized that the 1-on-1 learning atmosphere was crucial for honing in on the unique learning styles of each student and assuring that each session was crafted to his or her best benefit.

I use this adaptivity at AJ in order to tailor my approach to match individual learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses. I believe in helping students understand how they learn and to develop the tools to approach their studies effectively. I also aim not for rote memorization or formulaic approaches, but for true understanding of and engagement with the material. If I can also spark interest in a subject or a class the student formerly considered dull, that is all the more rewarding! I love watching students’ confidence grow, and whether I’m teaching test preparation or academic subjects, I seek to bring creativity, patience, and enthusiasm to help students reach their goals.

I spend my free time on creative writing, studying early music and honing my skills on medieval and triple harps, volunteering with horses and individuals with disabilities at a therapeutic riding center, and reading everything from classic literature to fantasy novels.