Carolyn Nguyen

Biography

Growing up with a biology teacher as a parent, I’d always had a passion for teaching. I was in awe whenever I’d see a complicated topic explained in a way that makes it accessible to all students. Accessibility has always been one of the key principles that I strive for when teaching. Being able to see students have that lightbulb moment when studying a subject that they are not as fond of makes it all worthwhile. Learning shouldn’t be scary and intimidating—all it takes is compassion for yourself and not being afraid to make mistakes along the way.

I am a San Jose native, and I graduated from UCLA with my B.S. in biology. I’ve always had a love for biology—but attending UCLA and taking classes that dove deeper into the inner workings of vertebrates and their specific anatomy has fostered a passion for anatomy and physiology that I hope to continue pursuing within my future educational endeavors.

However, while in high school, I also became captivated by the creativity that English had allowed for me. Each essay would require careful crafting that had no specific structure—analyzing essays felt like taking apart paintings layer by layer, dissecting all of their intimate details and gaining an understanding of the writer that I never would’ve felt before. English as a language has so many beautiful complexities that continue to draw me.

Working closely with UCLA’s AAP Peer Learning Program, I’ve had the opportunity of learning under many great educators and their teaching pedagogy has inspired me to pursue teaching in a way that is accessible to all students and creates an environment of cooperation and mutual trust. Having been taught biology by my parents since I first learned to read, I’ve never felt intimidated by its complexities. However, I struggled with many concepts in school and I wanted to be able to formulate my own understanding in order to excel independently. I believe that the most important part of learning to be a student is to find what study methods work for you. Every student is different and being able to cater to their needs and strengthen their current toolset is the key to becoming a strong, independent learner.

I believe in the importance of critically engaging with material and learning how to know where your limits are. Being able to identify your own shortcomings allows you to continue to push yourself and grow as a student. Through 1-on-1 tutoring, I am able to work closely with the students and create personal connections to them. By cultivating a trust with them, I am able to understand their thought process and work with them to improve in a way that they feel is most natural.

In my free time I enjoy reading novels, taking long walks in nature, and watching science documentaries.