I first became interested in tutoring while I was pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Biology at the University of Vermont. I had a wonderful supplemental instructor the first semester of my freshman year, and my experience working with her and having her help me excel made me want to do the same for others. That initial transition into college was difficult for me, but with my tutors help I ended up finishing that first semester strong with a 4.0 GPA. Like my first tutor, I strive to provide students with the skills necessary for them to excel. I want to cultivate open minds, help students look at the world critically, and most of all help them believe in their own capacity to be great.
At the start of my sophomore year of college and until graduation, I myself started to work as a University tutor and supplemental instructor in Biology, Calculus and Chemistry. Because I worked for the university in the "Center for Academic Success", tutors were held to a very high standard for their understanding of the material. My boss would regularly come in unannounced when I was tutoring to evaluate and confirm my ability to teach at a high level. I worked 10-20 hours per week tutoring college students in addition to attending school full time and playing on the University club hockey team. My responsibilities as a tutor included developing lesson plans, interactive sessions, games, and teaching one-on-one or to a group in a classroom setting. Balancing a job, education, and sport helped me develop important time management and organizational skills. Likewise, being on a team teaches one responsibility, dependability and the importance of working together as a team.
In addition to tutoring in a classroom session, I also have worked for several years as a surgical dental assistant and am now pursuing my Doctorate in Dental Surgery at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. Working as a surgical dental assistant helped me think of problems in a new way. It took the educational knowledge I had and applied that to real life settings. The real world is not like a text book or exam. It is messy and things may not go as planned. Working with patients in a medical setting has shown me this the hard way and has taught me to think outside the box.
I decided to go into Dentistry after college because I enjoy healthcare, helping others, and I wanted a profession where I can continue to teach everyday. Educating my patients about the fundamentals of proper oral health is crucial to long term prognosis and I believe the same is true for students when tutoring. Along with the foundations, proper communication, passion, trust, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and extensive scientific knowledge are all qualities that make up a good dentists and attributes that I strive for which can easily be translated to the tutoring setting.
My reason for wanting to return to tutoring once again is simple. I miss it. I miss the joy of helping a student and seeing that "aha" moment occur once everything clicks. From my undergraduate degree in Biology and now soon to be Doctorate in Dental Surgery, I have a vast knowledge of the Biological and Health Sciences that I am looking to share with others that need the help, just like I did that one day not too long ago. I truly look forward to being able to help others learn and excel both within and outside the classroom.