UC San Diego Tutor Specializing in English, History, and Standard

Santiago L.

I am a Political Science major at UC San Diego, focusing on Public Law and minoring in Literary Arts. Throughout my academic journey, I’ve dedicated myself to tutoring because I believe in the power of clear, compassionate instruction to unlock student potential. My tutoring background spans both classroom and individual settings, giving me a versatile perspective on how students learn best. In high school, I was part of the peer tutoring program where I worked one-on-one with students and also led classroom workshops, explaining challenging concepts in writing and literature. These experiences helped me develop a knack for creating engaging, interactive lessons that connect with students in real time.

Later, at Palomar College’s STAR Tutoring Center, I worked primarily in individual sessions, providing personalized academic support for college-level reading, writing, and research. These one-on-one sessions deepened my belief that effective tutoring is about collaboration. I approach every lesson as a conversation, starting by understanding where the student feels confident and where they feel stuck. From there, I use a step-by-step approach that builds strong foundations before layering complexity. I emphasize active learning—having students explain concepts back to me, work through examples aloud, and reflect on their progress. I also use constant recall, cycling back to reinforce material as we learn new concepts, and create quick, memorable phrases to help ideas stick, like catchy mnemonics tied to familiar names or situations.

As Nationals Team Captain for Triton Mock Trial, I’ve coached peers in crafting arguments and sharpening critical thinking—further honing my ability to explain complex ideas clearly and motivate students to reach their goals. My goal is always to make learning feel less like a chore and more like a conversation, and I look forward to helping each student feel more confident every step of the way.