Biography

Originally hailing from Massachusetts, I’ve passed through Iowa, New York, and Quebec to finally land here in the Bay Area (with many minor stops along the way). While I hope to keep traveling for the rest of my life, I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had so far. Tutoring, like traveling, exposes me to many different perspectives, and I deeply enjoy working with students of all backgrounds and learning styles.

I attended high school in Scarsdale, New York, and I tried to make the most of the possibilities surrounding me. I participated in a variety of clubs and organizations, trying everything from performances of Shakespeare to A/V club LAN parties. By my senior year, I had focused my interests and was acting as president of the school’s wind ensemble and the theater tech group.

While my extracurricular activities tended towards the creative, academically I was enthralled by math and science. I spent my Saturdays attending classes through the Columbia Science Honors Program, where I was introduced to topics ranging from special relativity to nanotechnology. This exposure led me to apply to McGill University, where I went on to study physics and computer science.

At McGill, I made sure to explore topics outside my own interests. I was able to take courses in Australian aboriginal music, human rights in religion, and many others alongside my core curriculum. While both math and science are passions of mine, I’ve found a broad education to be highly informative and valuable.

In teaching, I strive to inspire interest in the topics at hand and grow students’ curiosity for all variety of unknowns. I’m a strong believer in immersing oneself in the unfamiliar and being free to make mistakes. High school can be a time of great stress and uncertainty, and while questions about the future can seem daunting, this time can also be an opportunity to forge your own path. As a tutor, I aim to provide students with confidence in their own abilities and the knowledge to tackle new challenges.

My goal in sessions is to help my student learn to see a challenging physics question or a tricky SAT problem as an enjoyable obstacle to overcome. Preparing for standardized tests, especially, can seem like a chore, but with coaching the process can become empowering and connected to a student’s view of his or her own future.

When I’m not working with students, you’ll generally find me exploring parks and wilderness areas around the bay, listening to and playing music, or immersed in a good movie.