Lectures always seemed to move too quickly and were hard to understand. I asked multiple questions during class that seemed silly or easy to other students. I went to nearly every office hours available and wondered if some professors may have moved them to avoid me! With time, effort, and the help of many people, I succeeded. This experience taught me two things. One was what made math hard and how to learn effectively. The other was that everyone has the potential to learn and feel comfortable with math. I was able to put these lessons into practice as a math tutor and grader at Carnegie Mellon University, where I attained my bachelor's in mathematical science. Although some students were future engineers and scientists already quite proficient at math, others were studying the humanities or fine arts. Not all students had the same background through their prior coursework or in high school. I quickly recognized that students struggle with topics in different ways and learned to identify where they needed help most. Finally, after college I further developed my ability to explain difficult concepts as a corporate actuary. I was often required to communicate complex concepts to all types of professionals, from sales and marketing to operations and legal. I supervised and trained new employees, many of whom were new to our processes. All these experiences often required a lot of patience and good listening. However, seeing people get to the "light bulb moment" was very gratifying. It made me realize how much I enjoy helping others gain the same understanding of something as me. I hope to gain more of this rewarding experience with you!

Basketball, snowboarding, chess and weichi, card / board / computer games