High School, Undergrad, and Grad Math Tutor

Westley W.

I'm Wes (he/him), a recent graduate of the University of Southern California. I have been tutoring mathematics for nine years in a variety of settings beginning my junior year of high school. Mathematics and its beauty brings me such joy that I couldn't stop sharing it with others, so I pursued a bachelor's of arts in mathematics at Appalachian State University. There, I worked as a tutor in the math help center both in person and online for the duration of my degree before graduating summa cum laude.

To further my study of mathematics, I pursued a graduate degree at the University of Southern California where I served as a teaching assistant for three years and instructor of record for one year. I have facilitated full-class discussions, small group problem sessions, and individual tutoring. I received a Masters of Arts in Mathematics in May 2025.

Through teaching high school algebra to graduate level mathematics courses, my tutoring prioritizes building thorough foundational knowledge so that any student can succeed through the highest levels of mathematics. I address common gaps in student knowledge that prevent them from grasping topics which appear unrelated at first. This ensures all students will have the tools they need to overcome any math challenge, whether that be this semester or in ten years.

To achieve this, I use a variety of techniques to frame concepts, including graphs, real world examples, rote exercises, and leading questions. After establishing a concept, I provide followup exercises to engrain the associated problem solving concept and encourage creative problem solving, a core skill underpinning all mathematics. Most importantly, I frame *why* specific mathematical skills are important. Every topic has its reason and its place.