I graduated from Illinois State University in 2010 with a B.A. in English, receiving three different honors distinctions. I had a second major in Psychology and three minors, including French, cognitive science, and TESOL. Following graduation, I joined the Peace Corps and worked in Benin (West Africa) as an English teacher for two years, taking many opportunities along the way to do projects focused on women’s empowerment and girls’ education. I tutored many students in English, helping some catch up in class and also working with gifted students on areas that interested them. I stayed a third year to coordinate a peer-education health project and returned to the Chicago area in August 2013. I tutor a broad range of subjects, but really enjoy working with students on French language and English writing and grammar because, throughout my years of studying these subjects, I’ve come up with a lot of fun and creative ways to learn them that I’d love to share with students. I’ve worked very hard to prepare for standardized tests and I understand the difficulties they can sometimes pose, so I’m also excited to help students tackle these important exams. I strongly believe in the value of education and that every day is an opportunity to learn something new. In terms of hobbies, I enjoy gymnastics, circus arts (I was a performer for four years), hiking (I summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2011), cooking, and reading (especially science fiction).