Award-Winning Tutors from Duke University

There's nothing quite like that moment when a student's face lights up with understanding. Whether it's finally grasping a challenging calculus concept, conquering chemistry equations, or crafting the perfect college essay, I've had the privilege of witnessing countless "aha!" moments throughout my tutoring journey. What drives me as an educator is understanding that learning isn't one-size-fits-all. Every student has unique strengths and learning styles. My role isn't just to teach content - it's to discover how each student learns best and build their confidence alongside their knowledge. Many students come to me feeling overwhelmed, but I help them see that math and science aren't mysterious - they're puzzles waiting to be solved. I provide comprehensive tutoring across all levels of high school mathematics - from foundational algebra through advanced calculus and statistics. In the sciences, I work with students in biology, chemistry, and physics, connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications that make learning engaging and memorable. For college preparation, I offer SAT and ACT test prep that focuses on both content mastery and strategic test-taking skills. I also provide essay editing and writing support throughout the college application process, helping students craft compelling narratives that authentically showcase their personality and aspirations. What sets my tutoring apart is my genuine investment in each student's success. I don't just help with homework - I help students develop critical thinking skills, study strategies, and the confidence to tackle new challenges independently. I maintain regular communication with parents and always hold high expectations because I know students are capable of meeting them. Ready to unlock your potential? Let's work together to achieve your academic goals - one concept, one problem, and one success at a time. When I'm not tutoring, you'll find me experimenting in the kitchen, creating my own recipes and perfecting everything from weeknight dinners to elaborate desserts. There's something incredibly satisfying about the precision of baking that mirrors the logical thinking I love about math and science. I'm also passionate about staying active - whether I'm out on a morning run, hitting the hiking trails, or sweating it out in group fitness classes at the gym. I'm actually looking forward to diving into CrossFit next, always up for a new challenge!

I am a recent graduate of Duke University, where I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2014. I am primarily a math tutor but I also enjoy teaching chemistry and physics. Math was always my favorite subject in high school and I continued my love of math at Duke. I have also been a middle school and high school tutor throughout my time at Duke through the Program in Education. One of my crowning achievements at Duke was winning the DT Stallings Award, which is awarded to a Duke senior who has shown sustained and dedicated service to tutoring local school children. When I am tutoring a student, I prefer a very hands-on approach. I love working out problems with my students after working through an example problem completely. By working problems out with my students, I am able to help them if and when they get stuck. I hope to convey to every student the ability to think logically and persevere when things seem difficult.Outside of math and tutoring, I am a huge sports fan and novel reader. Since I graduated from Duke, I have a fierce love for all things Blue Devils and I really enjoyed watching Duke Basketball in Cameron Indoor Stadium. One of my favorite things to do is to read a novel while listening to my iPod.

Hey! I am currently a student at Duke University studying Biomedical Engineering and Economics. Just a little bit about me and some of my interests. Some of my favorite academic interests include memoirs and modern classics. I think Catcher in the Rye is still one of my all time favorite books but Percy Jackson, a modern classic, is up there too. Beyond academics, I take great guilty pleasure in watching TV shows such as Westworld, Sherlock, How I Met Your Mother, and even The Bachelorette when I'm at a low point.Beyond personal interests, tutoring has always been a side project of mine. Even since middle school, at a local elementary school, I would help tutor students in basic arithmetic and spelling. In high school, while the curriculum changed from multiplication tables to Calculus, the idea was still the same: help as many people reach their full potential as possible. Now, through Varsity Tutors, I can help continue helping as many people as possible! I look forward to working with you.

The very first student whom I tutored received a perfect score on the ACT. That is why I have continued tutoring for the past seven years. Throughout the course of my tutoring, I have had the pleasure of working with a wide variety of students from kindergarten to graduate school.

I am a current graduate student at Duke University in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, and I am a graduate of Assumption College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biotechnology and a minor in Chemistry. I was a tutor for the past three years at Assumption College. Working with students one-on-one and leading large group reviews has developed my ability to explain complex material to students in a simple and understandable manner. I have always enjoyed explaining material to others, and I find it satisfying when the students finally understand the concepts. I learned that in science it is crucial to be able to articulate concepts to people of diverse backgrounds. I also believe that it is essential to pass my knowledge and passion to others so they can make their own contribution to the scientific community. In my spare time I enjoy being active. I usually swim, run, and attend boxing classes.

I am a 2021 graduate from Duke University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with Distinction. At Duke, I also minored in Global Health and Chemistry and was a recipient of the Benjamin N. Duke full-ride scholarship based on leadership, service, and academics. I will be attending Yale Medical School as a member of the entering class of 2022. Having recently navigated the medical school application process with many interviews and acceptances, I have begun helping others with their essay writing and application prep. I come from a large Caribbean family and I love learning about other cultures while sharing my own. I enjoy teaching and have worked with everyone from Kindergarteners to middle and high school students to college students and even older adults! My primary teaching experience and interests are all elementary and middle school subjects, biology (through college level), beginner Spanish, essay writing, and test prep/study skills. I have also been an art educator for K-10 and adults!

I love to help students realize their potential. I believe all children and teenagers can perform well in school if given proper support and encouragement from caring adults. Learning should be enjoyable, and not be made to seem like a chore. I incorporate fun and games into my tutoring activities whenever possible.I received excellent grades on all papers written at Duke University (master's degree) and Emory & Henry College (B.A.), and I can help high school and college students learn to write better papers. I am proficient at US History and can help an AP US History student towards a 4 or 5 on his or her exam. My concentration for both of my post-high school degrees was religion, and I would love to tutor students who are taking religion courses. My favorite hobby is reading, and I believe it is important to instill an enjoyment of reading in students as early as possible. I can help young people who need extra support to become better readers.I am reliable, easy to get along with, and I love kids! I work with children and teenagers in my primary job, and I am comfortable around kids of all ages. I have two daughters of my own so I know what it is like for parents to want the best for their children. I do what it takes to tutor students to better grades, confidence in a subject, and a sense of self-reliance.

I have been very fortunate when it comes to learning because I have always found it enjoyable. Not just academic learning but new experiences in general. Growing up I loved school, but it was not until I got to college that I realized how truly lucky I had been in my previous years to have had my dad as my personal tutor. Any time I had a question he was able to help me. I had taken his presence for granted and it was not until I was in college that I realized how good I had it back home. When I got to college I was of the mindset that I knew how to study and that school was the one thing that I did well. It was a severe wake-up call after my first organic chemistry midterm to realize that I needed help studying. My study techniques were not working for me anymore. I sought out my school's tutoring service and it was the single best decision I made during my academic career. Learning from my peers was very eye opening. I realized that we do not all learn the same way and I found that the way in which my professor would explain a concept was not always how it made sense to me. This did not mean I was not going to understand it just meant I needed to find a new perspective. All it would take was a different analogy or a different example problem for said concept to click with me. It was then that I realized that I wanted to be the person that helped someone else understand. I wanted to be someone's resource so that they could continue to pursue their academic goals with the best outcome possible because learning does not follow a strict formula, it is not linear, and I think that schools do not always do a good job of translating that to students.I think I will be a great tutor because I have been on both sides of the coin. I know what it takes to be a good tutor and have had success with my students in the past. I have learned that teaching effectively only happens when the instructor takes the time to learn how the tutee learns, whether it be visually or by hearing it said to them or even by writing it down. All of which are valid forms of understanding and processing information, but are not always the way that the material is taught in class. Tutoring gives me the opportunity to personalize the teaching so that it fits the individual's needs leading to more efficient and effective learning. I plan to develop my student's entire approach to problem solving. This way what they learn has multiple applications and is not subject specific. I will construct a personalized algorithm that they can apply to studying as well as daily homework problems. I believe that effective learning can be taught and developed and with hard work and discipline it can become second nature.

As a student pursuing a Bachelor's in Chemistry from Duke University, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm for the sciences and mathematics. Though I have experience in tutoring, I view every session as an opportunity to foster a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable to ask questions and explore concepts deeply. My specialties include ACT and SAT preparation, as well as subjects like Algebra, Calculus, and Chemistry. I believe in a hands-on approach that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I am dedicated to helping students not only achieve their academic goals but also develop a genuine interest in learning.

As a graduate of Duke University with a B.S. in Biology, I knew I wanted to pursue academia. I continued my studies with a M.S. in Marine Biology at Nova Southeastern University, where I solidified my passion for research and teaching others. Now I'm hoping to help my students get as excited about learning as I always have been! My most recent teaching experience has been with a local marine biology summer camp, where I do my best to get the kids stoked about biology, ecology, environmental science, and conservation. While I feel most passionate about marine biology, I am also qualified to tutor a variety of different subjects. I have taken the SAT 11 different times, and feel very confident teaching standardized test subjects! For me, tutoring is about breaking down difficult subjects into bite-sized pieces for my students to understand. My motto is "baby steps," and I love finding new and personalized ways to make learning fun for my students. Outside of academia I can be found exercising, singing, playing the ukulele, lounging on the beach, or finding new and exciting ways to annoy my cat Mozart.

A professional greatly passionate about learning, education, and teaching. Studied at Duke University and traveled the world! I enjoy helping others learn and achieve their academic goals. I love meeting new people and have a friendly, down-to-earth personality.

I am a writer and educator who is passionate about student learning. I have been a writing tutor at Duke's prestigious Thompson Writing Program where I assisted a wide variety of writing in the sciences and the humanities. I also created and led a summer workshop for public high school students to assist them in writing their college essay applications.

Duke University graduate and experienced SAT tutor, including mentoring students at my high school to improve their scores and strengthen their confidence as learners. I focus on building strong foundations first, then developing speed, strategy, and test-taking endurance. My approach is supportive, patient, and goal-oriented, helping students grow their skills and believe in what they're capable of achieving.

Those who know how can only follow those who know why - Andrew D. Jones, Sr. (My Dad)In addition to showing students how to solve a problem, I can give them an understanding of mathematics so that they can successfully create the steps to solve a problem that they have never seen before. I have successfully worked with students who came to college unable to add fractions and enabled them to graduate with engineering degrees.Everyone learns differently. I strive to identify the learning style that works for each student and build success from their platform.I hold the following degrees:Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematics, Brown UniversityMaster of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Brown UniversityMaster of Arts in Pure Mathematics, Duke UniversityMay 1992, Bachelor of Arts in Physics, Duke UniversityBachelor of Science in Mathematics, Cleveland State UniversityMinor in Chemistry and Philosophy, Cleveland State UniversityI have more than 30 years of tutoring and teaching experience.I can bring examples and applications from physics, chemistry and engineering.I have written a book on Mathematical Structure.I love physics and I can tutor at the freshman and sophomore level.Contact me if:The approaches to math or physics that have been presented to you don't fit your learning styleorYou want go gain an understanding of mathematics that is unmatched anywhere.

I'm Rob! I graduated from Duke University in 2016 with a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Economics. I've been a math teacher in the DOE for the last 2 years and have a Master's of Arts in Teaching. I specialize in high school math and test prep for the ACT, SAT, and GRE.As a math teacher for the last 2 years, I've found that students often aren't given enough time in the classroom to fully grasp new concepts before moving on to new material. This often leads to "gaps" in their knowledge, which are hard to fill without providing them with 1-on-1 help. This is how I can benefit my students the most, by providing the the 1-on-1 attention they need. When I start with a new student, I first work to identify the gaps in their knowledge, and then methodically fill in those gaps to help them reach a stronger conceptual understanding.I want to help my students as much as possible. As part of my approach, I like to understand my students' long term academic or professional goals to make sure I'm working with them in a way that's most beneficial to those goals.I live in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. I'm can do remote sessions or in-person. Please contact me if you would like to set up a free 15 minute consultation!

I have been a personal tutor and have also taught in group settings for over 5 years covering topics ranging from math and science to Korean and computer science. This emphasized the importance of being adaptable and using different teaching methods for different pupils.My philosophy is positive reinforcement as a motivational technique and a way to bond with the student.

I received my PhD in Microbiology from Northwestern University in 2025 and my Bachelor's in Biology from Duke University in 2017. I have a passion for connecting driven students with the resources they need to succeed. I am based in Chicago.

Education is a passion, as well as a life-long commitment, for me. I was a National Merit Scholar finalist in high school and then graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a history major and a comparative area studies minor. I graduated from University of North Carolina School of Law in the top 15% of my class and later returned there as an adjunct professor of Legal Research and Writing. I later received a Ph.D. in Anthropology from UNC-Chapel Hill where I had a 3 year National Science Fellowship and was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student award twice. I then taught for over a decade at Montana State University in the Native American Studies Department. I have since tutored high school and college level students in the social sciences and English for over 7 years.I am an exceptional writing tutor. I have numerous scholarly articles published as well as editorial experience on an academic journal. I have two published books as well. I also tutor for the PSAT/SAT/ACT, as well as helping students with their college essays. My students and their education are very important to me. I enjoy helping them achieve their objectives. I tailor my tutoring to their individual needs and learning styles. I am personable and warm; students like me and find me easy to work with. I have had great success with students mastering school subjects and standardized tests after working with me. Many have made exceptional improvements.

I am a motivated, eager, curious individual with a passion for helping others learn. I bring a diverse range of experiences with over 4 years of tutoring experience, including ACT, SAT, PSAT tutoring, college essay editing. I have also worked for 2 years with America Read America Counts, and spent summer of 2016 tutoring 12-18 year old girls in Cusco, Peru.

I am a student at Duke University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with Chemistry and German minors. On campus I am involved in the Bilbo lab, which focuses on neuroimmune interactions in abnormal brain development. I am very passionate about helping others enjoy and learn about various fields in STEM.My role as a tutor is to help students navigate any difficulty they may have in the classroom. I strive to help students reach their academic potentials and gain confidence in their ability in the classroom. As a current undergraduate student, I can assist students in finding balance between achieving their academic goals and extracurricular activities. In my free time, I enjoy running, cooking, and cycling.

I am a 7-12 certified middle school History teacher. I also am on the premedical track. I have a major in History and minors in Biology/Chemistry from Duke University.I love teaching and firmly believe in the potential of every student. I utilize an uplifting teaching model that empowers students to not only learn the material, but be confident in their knowledge.I have over 8 years of teaching and tutoring experience in a variety of subjects. I have served as a mentor for the Durham Children's initiative, working to build an educational pipeline to college for underserved students. I currently tutor Chemistry, General Science, Math, English, History, and test prep.

I have tutored many people in the past - from elementary school kids to Duke University athletes. I really enjoy the challenge of helping students understand material that was previously foreign to them. I am highly dedicated, make my own lessons and try to make learning as fun as possible.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy with a minor in Education from Duke University and my Elementary Teaching Certification from Johns Hopkins University. My academic interests lie in education policy and educational psychology, the intersection of how we learn and how the systems around us shape that learning. I nurtured my passion for classroom teaching while teaching fourth grade in Baltimore from 2020 to 2022, first virtually during the height of the pandemic and then in person. My students were curious, hilarious, and resilient, and they taught me that learning works best when it feels meaningful and joyful. Before teaching, I tutored in high school and college, worked in Duke's Identity and Diversity Lab studying how children make meaning of human differences, and worked as a full-time nanny, caring for twin infant boys. I enjoy tutoring many subjects, most notably English, Social Studies, and History. I love helping students see the patterns that connect the past to the present, and gain confidence putting their own ideas into words. My approach is structured but flexible: I set clear goals, then create space for curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Outside of tutoring, I love exploring new restaurants, reading fiction, and traveling to visit my family and friends.

I recently graduated from Duke University with a BA in Public Policy. I am in New York City studying acting, and I want to bring the same energy, enthusiasm and compassion that is required on stage to my students. I have experience tutoring for the SATs, and I have had significant experience serving as a mentor to younger students, particularly in the university setting. I love coaching and helping students discover their intellectual passions. Most importantly, I am thrilled by the prospect of helping a student set concrete goals and progress towards actualizing them in an academic realm. But above all I want to work with students to help them develop strategies that are personally effective and furthermore that link their passions with their education.

I have taught high school mathematics for the past 7 years and have loved every minute of it. Throughout those seven years I earned my second Masters in Math Education and began pursuing my PhD in the field. I have had the pleasure of being nominated as a honor teacher five times by the top ten students during various years. I am a teacher leader in my community and I enjoy sharing the wealth of knowledge.

I find my success in helping others to succeed and reach their goals. My main objective as a tutor is to empower my students and guide them toward their own success by instilling confidence in them. I understand that every student has their own learning style as well as unique passions, strengths and interests. I aim to get to know my students individual strengths and passions in order to make the material interesting and meaningful for them. I believe in an individual's creativity and I create individualized and personal lessons based on what kind of learner a student is. I believe that education is power and that the best way to empower someone is to teach them.I grew up in Long Island, New York and graduated high school with an IB Diploma in 2010. After high school, I headed down south to North Carolina where I studied at Duke University. I created my own interdisciplinary major and graduated in May 2014. During my time in college, I was lucky to spend a semester studying in South Africa at the University of Cape Town and return to the country the next summer to conduct independent research. After graduating from Duke, I accepted an international teaching position with WorldTeach. I was very grateful for the experience to live on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia for a year and teach reading and writing to high school juniors and seniors. Although my formal experience is working with high school aged students, I have background experience working with younger students, as well. I have experience teaching reading and literature, essay, creative and persuasive writing as well as public speaking. I am also experienced in teaching test preparation and test-taking strategies, resume and personal statement preparation, and leadership. Further, I am an experienced researcher and editor. I am an avid reader and a skilled writer. I aspire to help my students feel confident and positive about their education and future.

I graduated as valedictorian of my high school, then graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's in Neuroscience, and have just recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a master's in Biotechnology. I have worked as a research technologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine and I am now a medical student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.I have thirteen years of tutoring experience, in subjects ranging from math, test prep, Spanish, and violin. I train in martial arts and I enjoy learning languages in my free time. I have volunteered as a Spanish medical interpreter at local clinics.Feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions. I look forward to working with you!

Hi! My name is Nima, and I am a rising college sophomore who will be attending Duke University on a full merit scholarship in the fall. I love to run cross country and play the viola, as well as tutoring students in a whole variety of subjects! Feel free to message me!

I specialize in GRE, SAT, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and math.I am an undergraduate senior majoring in mechanical engineering and chemistry with a computer science minor at Duke University. I have 6+ years of tutoring experience from middle school to the college level. With a major GPA of 3.96/4.00 while overloading on classes, I have the experience to show you how to absorb the material quickly and effectively to make time for other classes/activities.In addition, I can help make studying be less of a chore! There are many studies that suggest a positive mindset best promotes learning and growth, and this is how I approach my tutoring sessions in addition to my own studies. I can show you how to balance a difficult workload while keeping up your mental health.Outside of classes, I enjoy rock climbing, running, and playing League of Legends.

I am a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and Duke University. I received my Bachelor's degree in History and my Master's degree in Religious Studies. Since graduation I have tutored students in American History and Biblical Hebrew, which were exceedingly rewarding experiences. I am especially passionate in helping students learn to think critically, and enjoy the process of learning. While I tutor a variety of subjects, I am most enthusiastic about tutoring in History and Writing because these subjects utilize skills that students will use and cultivate throughout their lives and are applicable for many careers. I would describe my teaching philosophy as hands on and project-based learning. I strive to include fun and relevant videos, songs, and activities into my curriculum to ensure the engagement of my students. Outside of academia I like painting, baking, hiking, photography, and having game nights with friends.

I am a Computer Science major at Duke University passionate about encouraging others who are learning CS so that they may come to understand the powerful, real-world impact that programming can have. As someone who has a strong background in tutoring, including, but not limited to, the chemistry tutoring club I co-founded in high school and my current involvement in the Duke Music Tutors organization, I am confident in my ability to tutor in a way that is focused, individualized, and memorable.

Hi! I'm a passionate and enthusiastic educator who loves helping students from elementary through college grow and succeed. I've taught all subjects as a substitute teacher at Durham Academy, but Spanish and French are my favorite! I also provided one-on-one tutoring with One Up Tutors, making learning languages and other subjects fun, engaging, and rewarding. Most recently, I worked as a teacher assistant at Duke University, helping students navigate ethics courses, organize their work, and understand complex ideas. I enjoy working with learners of all ages and abilities, and I'm all about creating highly effective lessons. Let's make learning exciting and help you reach your goals!

I graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with my RN, BSN and from Duke University with my MSN,FNPI am approved to tutor:NCLEX

Hi, I'm Marissa! I scored a 36 on the ACT (100th percentile) and a 521 on the MCAT (98th percentile), and I love helping students achieve their academic goals. I break complex concepts into clear, manageable steps while creating a supportive, encouraging environment where questions are always welcome. My goal is to help you build confidence, strengthen your understanding, and succeed. I look forward to working with you!

I enjoy empowering students by making learning fun and believe that everyone has an "inner genius" that just takes the right technique to unlock. I bring a patient and friendly approach to teaching, specializing in the sciences, technology and math, and believe in teaching students to "learn for themselves".

When I began college, I remember struggling with tests and with time management. Being a premedical student from the very beginning meant that I was forced to learn very quickly how to overcome these challenges. My attempts to become a successful student were filled with perseverance, which became the theme of my professional endeavors. After working extremely hard to be accepted into my top choice medical school at Duke University, I again found myself in a situation where I felt under prepared and lost. Through much work and research about study skills, proper test preparation, and test taking strategies, I eventually have reached a level where I am comfortable assessing my own test readiness and how to best strengthen my academic weaknesses. I believe that through my own personal experiences, I have become a stronger life-long learner and I plan to use these skills throughout my career as I plan to stay in academic medicine to further the field of medical education.

With a degree in Mathematics, a Master's in Engineering, and 36+ years at GE Aerospace as a design engineer, I bring real-world insight to tutoring general mathematics, algebra, geometry, and statistics. I help high school and college students understand not just how to solve problemsbut why they work. Will help you learn to break down complex concepts, improve your grades, and build lasting problem-solving skills.

I am a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University. My job requires excellent mathematics, analytic, and writing skills, which are also my favorite subjects to teach. I have experience teaching kids in elementary, middle, and high school, as well as college-aged students. My particular expertise is in managing attention and assisting with executive functioning (e.g., time management and planning).

I am a rising senior at Duke University majoring in Psychology and minoring in English. I first started tutoring when I was 10; I'd explain new words in books to my little sister and help her with cursive, work on times tables with my older brother, and teach the little bit of English I knew to my immigrant parents. I tutored students in my middle school through a counseling program, helped deaf and disabled students develop social and creative skills, and freelance tutored throughout high school, and have tutored Spanish-speaking immigrant families (ages 6-12) in Durham, NC since October 2018. Other teaching experiences include training my dog to go down a slide on command and teaching my 10th-grade precalculus teacher how to hand whistle. Though I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English, Literature, and Writing. I believe reading and writing are not only complex forms of thinking, but avenues for understanding someone else's unique perspective and ways of being in life. I have the most fun helping my students dissect arguments and meaning from texts, especially when it's in Spanish, my native language. When I'm not tutoring, I most likely am listening to music, playing board games with my family, or looking at cat videos online.

I am a rising senior at Duke University in Durham, NC. When not passing my time sleeping outdoors waiting for assorted basketball tickets as a "Cameron Crazie," I study Evolutionary Anthropology with fortunate access to Duke's fascinating lemurs and primates. My aspiration since my matriculation at college has been to pursue medicine, and I have just recently finished piecing together my application for medical school. Naturally, having just finished studying for the MCAT, I have a particular expertise in science of all kinds ranging from Biology and Chemistry to Physics. However, having also taken many AP courses in high school, I have a thorough working knowledge in English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Spanish, and Psychology. I have tutored all throughout high school and also have previous experience working with Mad Science of Long Island teaching general concepts in science to younger students of ages between 5-12 years old. In my free time, I am an avid soccer player and music fanatic (particularly alternative/independent rock). I am extremely passionate about teaching (both my brother and mother are teachers) and truly look forward to sharing some of the tools I have developed along the road with others. I know personally of the successes and, unfortunately, failures that have faced me upon my academic path and believe my down-to-earth and empathetic style makes me uniquely well-suited to help others along theirs.