Award Winning Academic Tutoring & Test Prep

I am a graduate of the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in political science and in international studies. My interest in international relations began as a young boy during the Kosovo War. Amidst the conflict’s carnage I witnessed on TV, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and his role as peacemaker enthralled me. Since then, I have dreamt about becoming a United States diplomat. In the more immediate future, I hope to achieve a master’s degree in international relations.

My studies have provided me the knowledge and skills to be a useful tutor not only in political science and international studies, but also history, English, writing, American politics and government, research, and literature.

In addition, for the last nine years or so, I have studied Spanish. Since freshman year of high school, I have studied Spanish each year, building on the foundation I built in the previous year. In the fall of 2010, I was fortunate enough to study in Bilbao, Spain, where I lived with a host family and took all of my courses entirely in Spanish. Since graduation, I maintain my Spanish proficiency through my own studies and through interactions with Spanish-speaking friends and neighbors.

I can also be a valuable tutor for the ACT and SAT. The ACT’s sections of English, reading, and writing fall into my wheelhouse with my background in writing and research as a political science major. Prior to majoring in political science and international studies, I entered college as a biology major because science was my other academic passion and I sought to become a doctor. In the end, though, my life’s calling was in international relations. Thus, I can tutor students in the sections of science and math. For the SAT, the sections of critical reading and writing, similar to the ACT, fall into my wheelhouse.

I have tutored elementary students in math, high school students in Spanish, and high school students in American government and politics. While in Spain, I tutored native Spaniards in English in exchange for their help in my studies of Spanish.

I like to go into a tutoring session with a general lesson plan consisting of in-session benchmarks, activities, and quizzes. However, that does not mean that the lesson plan is absolute. I am completely flexible in incorporating ideas from the guardian or student into the lesson plans and adjusting the lesson plans on the fly to focus on areas that might need more attention. My teaching style is relaxed and involves an open dialogue with the student so that I’m able to develop an effective, working relationship with the student.

I’m an easygoing, calm individual who enjoys learning languages, watching sports (Da Bears), writing, traveling, and all kinds of music, from Josh Groban to Sak Noel.