Biography

I was born and raised in San Jose and graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in physics. My college experience taught me a lot of lessons about work ethic and studying skills, and I want to impart those lessons to my students. I enjoy teaching physics because I believe that physics offers a different way of approaching the world. The skills involved, including breaking down problems into smaller components and identifying the topics needed to manipulate variables,  are useful in any field.

I was a curious kid, always wondering how things worked at a fundamental level. I spent a lot of time wondering about what causes the moon’s cycles and why rainbows existed. In high school I had the opportunity to solve some of these mysteries, and I chose to study physics specifically because I loved the concepts and beauty of nature. I also enjoy calculus because it is the language of physics.

Throughout high school and college, I helped my peers with their studies in physics and math. Physics is a very conceptual subject, and if students are not accustomed to abstract thinking, they can find it quite challenging. During college, I also worked for multiple summers as a camp counselor, trying to inspire kids to be excited about science, math, and technology. Most of the time I found that students’ interest in STEM didn’t need to be inspired; they had it in them already. It was usually circumstances or people in their lives that led them to believe they couldn’t succeed in STEM fields. I believe that anyone can succeed in science or math, all it takes is an interest in the subject and a good teacher!

I enjoy teaching in a one-on-one environment because I do not need to split my attention between multiple students at different levels. I am able to provide a more personalized approach, taking the time to identify and fill the gaps in each student’s understanding. I enjoy helping students tie new concepts to previous ones to create a strong foundation.

My tutoring strategy involves teaching students to tie new concepts to previous ones to create a strong foundation. In doing so, they develop the ability to make connections and to understand more complex ideas. I also teach by showing my students how a certain type of problem is solved, working through the solution together with them, and then having them solve it for themselves. This last part is critical because it ensures that the student can take what they have learned and apply it. They learn both the content and problem solving skills needed so that they can succeed on tests and quizzes. I especially believe in having the student practice to develop their confidence in their own abilities.

In my free time, I enjoy reading to investigate the questions that pop into my curious mind and playing guitar and ukulele.