I was struggling to learn my subjects and preparing for the SAT standardized test. I came from a rural high school (DuBois, PA) with no AP classes as well as no Honors classes. I was projected that engineering would be too difficult for me and that I should pursue something less rigorous. I ended up graduating with a Honors degree in chemical engineering and a minor in mathematics from the Pennsylvania State University. I then received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University doing all of my research work with Sandia National Laboratories. I achieved these goals by setting high expectations for myself and striving every day to meet these expectations. I am a tutor that predominantly focuses on STEM and Business subjects from high school through graduate school as well as standardized tests. I really do not have a favorite subject here. I just enjoy teaching students who desire to learn and improve themselves. When I was an undergraduate student as well as a teaching assistant in graduate school teaching first semester students, I could take a person the night before the exam that had no clue of what was going on in class and help them achieve a B on the exam the next day. Standardized tests such as the SAT/ACT exam comprise various courses in high school and I cannot teach someone everything they need to know in one night or if a person is weeks behind in the understanding of the course material. Whether it is a standardized test or learning another subject; an assessment must be determined of where the student is currently in their understanding of the material. Next a game plan must be put together to get the student from where they are currently at to where they want to go. The fact of the matter is unless a student has always struggled in mathematics since kindergarten, they can achieve a perfect or near perfect score on the SAT/ACT mathematics section. The only traits that are required are a high level of expectations as well as the desire and effort to achieve those expectations. When it comes to solving problems, I will always ask the student on how they would solve a particular problem. Their answers can range that they definitely know how to solve it to they have absolutely no idea. I would then guide them along through each problem with the goal to have them understand a correct approach needed and to instill in the student a better understanding of the material as time goes along. As far as more information about myself, I am a person that enjoys learning and growing in all pursuits and my favorite hobby is working out and lifting weights at my local Planet Fitness. Additional Information: I am a STEM based tutor for Varsity Tutors in which I tutor everything from entry level to advanced subjects in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, all Engineering disciplines, and MBA courses. I am continuously adding both courses in an individual field as well as fields themselves to tutor. I tutor from 6th grade to graduate school as well as students with mental disabilities. I help students from inner city schools to the top boarding schools in the US to state public universities as well as the ivy league. I work with students at international universities along with international students in the US as well as adults going back to school.

- Talking to people especially students