Fun Facts

I've lived in Mongolia and China, I study a little Chinese every day, and I've read over 50 books a year for the past 3 years.

About Me

I simply love teaching, learning, and gaining new experiences. I grew up loving books and stories, I loved the new information, the insights, and the worlds they opened up to me. If I was interested in something I read about it, and that enthusiasm continues to this day. I also love experiencing new things in the physical world around me. I was curious about China, so I moved there. I wanted to experience Mongolia, so I tried that. I love learning about history, psychology, sociology, economics, music, and so much more, and I truly enjoy helping others to recognize not just the info that will help them get the grades they desire, but the info that will help enrich their worlds.

Experience

I taught English, history, economics, government, and numerous other subjects at a private 1-on-1 high school in Menlo Park, California, for nearly 3 years. I wanted to travel, however, I wanted new experiences, so I became TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified and taught English to adults in China for 2 years. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a halt to that adventure, but I then landed in Mongolia for a year, teaching 1st through 12th graders. I've gained immensely from every one of these experiences, and I'm eager to learn and teach more going into the future.

Approach

As a student, I often wasn't sure of the relevancy of what we did. I didn't understand how it was connected to the real world, or why it mattered. Now that I'm older, I see how learning and knowledge underpin everything around us, and so I make it my mission to make those connections clearer for students. I'm honest, enthusiastic, and earnest in what I do. Not every book will be our favorite, and not every history test will feel relevant at the moment, but I feel I have great skill in leveling with students, getting them through the material in an enjoyable way, and showing them the bigger picture. I like getting students more interested in the material itself, I like making them think and feel that the material is "real", so to speak, that it does connect to their own lives.