Jessica: Waterloo tutor

Certified Tutor

I am completing an M.A. in Communication at the University of Texas at Arlington, with coursework in critical media studies, game design and analysis, public speaking, public relations, training & development, curriculum design, leadership, and persuasion & rhetoric. This background allows me to guide students not only in traditional subjects but also in creative and applied areas like storytelling, worldbuilding, and narrative design. I also coach students and hobbyists in becoming effective Dungeon/Game Masters and in game design fundamentalsteaching how to ideate, build scaffolding for systems, and create a checklist for a "complete" game.

I am passionate about helping middle school through graduate-level learners, where the challenges of essays, exams, applications, and interviews can feel daunting without the right tools and strategies. We build skills that carry beyond a single assignmentwhether that's mastering research methods, strengthening writing and communication, or preparing for academic and professional milestones.

I strive to make my sessions a welcoming environment where learners can show up as themselveswhatever that means for themand to know I am a safe space. Tutoring (and life!) can sometimes feel overwhelming, so I also offer light strategies for managing stress, such as short breaks, breathing exercises, or guided grounding techniques. Learners are free to laugh, cry, or share as much (or as little) as they feel comfortable. My goal is to create an environment where learning feels safe, empowering, and fun!

My tutoring philosophy is student-centered with high agency and empowerment. This means that the learner is in control, and I play the role of guide and facilitator. My goal is to encourage students to take ownership of their own learning while I provide materials, strategies, resources, and opportunities for real-world application. I provide these opportunities for real-world application by using experiential & gameful learning methods. These can look like: mock interviews, problem-based learning simulations/case studies where learners take on the role of a specific practitioner, gamified learning strategies where learners "level up" and/or earn rewards, and other roleplay and improvisation games/simulations centered around the subject.

The subjects I tutor fall into two main categories:

College Prep & Student Success college application/scholarship essay coaching, creative writing (academic, hobbyist, and game design), study skills/time management/organization, public speaking, and research methods & formatting (specialty in APA).

Career Prep rsum and cover letter coaching, interview prep and mock interviews, email drafting & professional communication, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive), and Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Drive).