Javier: Schiller Park tutor

Certified Tutor

As a naturalized citizen of the United States of America, I am very passionate about helping student improve their communication skills both in Spanish and English. When I came to the US from Barranquilla, Colombia, I didn't want to learn English; so, I became a truck driver 18-wheleer in Miami, Florida. Even though I was doing great, after four years driving trucks, I decided to relocate to Palm Bay, Florida, and join the United States Army as a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne Division. During my active-duty time in the US Army, I earned my Associate in Arts degree at Campbell University in North Carolina. Then, I went back to Palm Bay to pursue my bachelor's degree in Communication at Florida Institute of Technology, where I graduated magna cum laude in 2003.

After graduating in Florida Tech as a communicator, I started writing for the local daily newspaper FLORIDA TODAY in the business section. While working there as an intern, I started my own bilingual newspaper AL DIA TODAY. Then, 9 years later, I graduated with my master's degree in Global Strategic Communication in 2013, also at Florida Tech. The same year, I founded the Brevard Hispanic Center, a non-profit organization under the 501 c 3 code of the IRS that helps individuals and families in areas of education, health, family issues, immigration, and economic empowerment. At the Brevard Hispanic Center, I created the English Language Integration Program (ELI Program) to help individuals that went to school in other countries while improving their level of English, so they could work in the US in their careers.

Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Text and Technology at the University of Central Florida. I continue publishing the bilingual newspaper AL DIA TODAY and providing digital marketing solutions to businesses and organizations. Besides tutoring at Varsity Tutors, I serve my community through the Brevard Hispanic Center.