I started a bug collection as a kid because I loved exploring every corner of my yard and finding new critters to identify and watch. Two decades later, I have finished my doctorate after spending 6 years working with fruit flies and investigating the genetics of how their eyes develop. In all those years, I've never lost my excitement or enthusiasm for science and discovery.

I believe in sharing this passion with those around me. I believe that students find their teacher's enthusiasm infectious and encourages them to look at a subject through a new lens. Too many students get bogged down by the complicated vocabulary when teachers fail to communicate just how amazing biological processes are.

While in graduate school, I had the privilege of teaching the first (and maybe last) biology class that some future elementary educators took. This helped me develop an energetic approach to material that many of them found scary. Too many of them remembered difficult high school classes where they just felt lost and uninterested. I always preferred working in small groups so that I could show them just how much they really knew. Empowering students is a critical step in carving out their path to success.

I am excited to continue teaching with enthusiasm and passion. I love helping students discover their own abilities and their own intelligence. Tutoring offers a perfect environment to support students that are looking for guidance.