Gabriella: Pickering tutor

Certified Tutor

I am eager to work with students on their English writing and composition, especially essays, articles, and creative work! This year, I am a junior at Mount Holyoke College, working towards my English major. I absolutely love the expression and possibilities that we can explore through English, and I am overjoyed to help others shape their visions through writing. Every student has their own story to tell, and I want to guide them as they sharpen their skills and flourish into strong writers. While writing composition is my favorite area to teach, I will gladly help with reading comprehension as well.

I have extensive experience with editing articles and essays and making suggestions for clarity, concision, tone, persuasiveness, and word choice. For two years, I worked as the managing editor of my high school newspaper, Deerprints, as well as a freshman opinion editor for the Mount Holyoke News. When I work with writers, I always make it a point to be both positive and honest; I believe that encouragement combined with detailed, constructive feedback is the best way to improve. Communicating with students about their needs is deeply important to me, as this allows us to build trust and a personalized learning plan that will help them thrive.

In the age of generative AI engines, it is now more crucial than ever that students assert their own original ideas and words. Writing is an essential lifelong skill that goes far beyond academia, impacting the rest of our lives. It is my goal to instill confidence in every writer I work with, equipping them with versatile tools and tips that will serve them well. Reading is also a critical ability for everyone, and I want to encourage readers to absorb and analyze literature, coming up with their own interpretations and sparking dialogue about these works.

Outside of academia, some of my interests include writing stories and poetry, playing the clarinet, drawing, learning about marine biology, and playing badminton! I absolutely love creating characters, drawing and writing about them and associating them with music. Additionally, I enjoy going on outdoor walks and taking pictures of wildlife.