Biography

My interest in tutoring comes from my dad: when I was in elementary school, he would come to class and teach me and a few other students new topics like long division and negative numbers (mind blowing at the time!) I later paid it forward to other students in my year during high school, then sought out further experience with younger ages by teaching coding. I enjoy building a rapport with my students and seeing their growth as we work together, and seeing them achieve their goals is one of my favorite things about teaching.

I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, though I also have strong ties to Hawaii where we often stayed with my grandmother. I attended the University of Washington and earned my bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, with a specialization in data science. Currently, I am studying management science and engineering at Stanford in order to take my knowledge to the next level. One of the most helpful things in my academic career thus far has been learning how to address and improve my personal weaknesses, and I strive to improve a little bit every day. I also came to understand the value of a reliable mentor, which is something I hope to provide to my students.

As an engineering student, I have always enjoyed working with numbers, and I believe that in the current world, it’s great for students to have at least a basic understanding of coding. I’ve been working with both topics for many years dating back to middle school, and it has been a pleasure guiding students through them. I think both precalculus and computer science are great points for students to decide how much further they want to go in math and coding.

I also enjoy tutoring both the SAT and ACT. I believe that guiding students to choose the test that best fits their strengths is almost as important as helping them master the content itself. Personally, I attribute my own success on these exams to the time I invested in practicing, understanding the test format, and developing effective strategies. By sharing these techniques, I aim to empower students to approach these exams confidently and reach their full potential.

I previously worked for five years as an instructor at the first Code Ninjas in Washington, where I learned a lot about working with students of all ages, as well as unique challenges and motivations that come with different age levels. It refined my explanation skills and encouraged me to adapt to a wide variety of situations. I also worked as a tutor as part of Alpha Pi Mu, a scholarly organization in industrial engineering college programs. This was an experience where I was able to build  rapport with students, as many were exploring industrial engineering as a career option.

My goal is to develop students’ ability to evaluate themselves and their answers so that they can feel confident and display their full potential on test day. I enjoy finding the right balance between assisting students and giving them the tools to help themselves. I also aim to help my students recognize their own weaknesses and address them in a positive way. I believe in having a two-way, active conversation with students, encouraging them to ask questions, share insights, and take an active role in their own learning.

In my free time I enjoy swimming, listening to music, watching the NBA, and reading fantasy novels.