Smith

Certified Tutor

As a junior in the mechanical engineering program at the University of South Florida, with a minor in physics, I have had exposure to a wide array of professors and instructors, and in turn a wide array of teaching styles and methods. This background, along with plenty of experience helping my peers with homework and studying, gives me the ability to present the material in a number of different ways to make sure you, the student, fully grasp the concepts.

I first discovered my passion for helping others learn while living on campus at USF freshman year. Living in the "Engineering Living Learning Community," I was surrounded entirely by people taking the same physics and calculus classes that I was. We usually studied in groups, and I ended up being the one most people came to for help. After seeing the look in someone's eyes after a concept finally "clicks" in their head, I knew helping and tutoring was something I enjoyed doing. From then on, I volunteered myself to help with homework or studying whenever possible. This not only gave me plenty of experience, it helped solidify the ideas and concepts in my own head, strengthening my understanding of the material.

As far as my teaching philosophy goes, I strongly believe it is very important to focus on the student first and the material second. This means first finding out where the student's strengths and weaknesses in the subject are. Once a basic understanding of the material is reached, a more nuanced picture of how the student sees the content can be reached by having them guide me through a problem or concept, instead of vice versa, so I can see exactly what ideas the student needs assistance with and then work from there.

Outside of school, I enjoy playing and watching sports, including soccer, lacrosse, and football. I also enjoy reading, watching TV, and drinking coffee. My favorite books are 1984, The Stranger, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and my favorite shows are The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Parks & Rec.