Thomas: Sussex tutor

Certified Tutor

I am a native of Kansas, though I have teaching experience from Australia and England. I earned my undergraduate degree in ecology & evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas, plus a master's degree in teaching from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

I enjoy working with students and helping them to realize their skills. In my teaching experiences, I've often found that students who struggle with their subjects tend to feel that they simply can't learn them, or that science/math/english, etc. is not for them. While we all have liked certain subjects more than others (and interest in the subject helps!), addressing lack of confidence as well as explaining concepts in alternative ways helps students realize potential they may never have known they had.

In my early school days, I suffered math anxiety. I just could not get it. It frustrated me to the point where I would give up on a problem without trying. Fortunately, I had a teacher in college who was able to identify where I was struggling, and she (patiently) worked with me to break down problems and build to progressively more complicated ones. By my sophomore year, I was able to take (and do well in!) calculus, a subject I never thought I would be able to tackle.

I think the keys to my success in overcoming anxiety was my teacher's ability to not only pinpoint concepts I was struggling with, but also her willingness to calmly guide me through tasks and bring out confidence.

Drawing from my experiences, I am happy to help students succeed in their science subjects.