Houston native, born and raised! I have a degree in English Literature with a minor in World Cultures and Literatures from the University of Houston. I went from a high school graduate at the bottom of the third quarter to a Magna Cum Laude university graduate, simply because I applied myself to the task and taught myself study skills I'd never had in high school. I also chose the right subject for myself: I began college in Hotel and Restaurant Management but switched to English because it’s the only thing I got A’s in. There's a lesson there: when it comes to higher education and career choices, do what you like and what you are good at, and you will succeed!
After a career-enlightening stint at the University of Houston Writing Center in college, I became a tutor because it is an opportunity to further do what I consider my calling: help students express themselves. I love it. It’s as easy as breathing. In the two years after graduating, I've been a full-time English and history tutor for two years now, working with students on study skills, coursework, test prep, and college guidance. My favorite subjects to tutor are US history, writing, SAT verbal, AP English language and composition, and college essays. I also love grammar and vocabulary! "My son needs to learn 300 words and their accompanying synonyms"...I heard that recently and the idea of it was actually exciting because words are fun for me!
I believe that doing well in verbal subjects requires a balance of two factors: understanding what the teacher wants and giving it to him or her ("Give the people what they want", I often say), and figuring out what you, the student, have to say about a subject. Have an opinion! Then you combine your thoughts with the teacher's expectations in a thoughtful, logical sequence. Sound difficult? It's really not! I'm here to show you how to make that happen. And once you learn it, you might not even need me anymore...and I'm okay with that. My way is to teach students how to fish rather than do the fishing for them. I believe this approach to teaching, as well as reliability and ability to work with diverse personalities, is what makes me a client favorite.
I've found that when it comes to tutoring, there are as many student goals as there are students. Everyone is different: A football player who must maintain a B in English but can't make heads or tails of Pride and Prejudice...a valedictorian used to succeeding through sheer determination, but scared to death she doesn't have anything worthy to say in her personal statement to her dream college...or a student recently immigrated to the US who needs to learn how to communicate his brilliant thoughts in a language he doesn't yet have a complete grasp of. All of these have been my clients, and I am proud to say that my clients meet their goals.
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