My journey towards tutoring is a unique one. Coming to study at the University of Michigan from Pakistan was not only a culture shock, but an academic one as well. Coming to terms with the GPA system was a challenge, and one that I struggled with.
After mediocre performance by my own standards, I decided to take a step back and reconsider my studying habits. I realized that to do well, even in the sciences, you need to master the concepts rather than the formula. Just based on this simple approach, combined with countless hours of the age-old mantra of "practice, practice, and more practice!", I was able to succeed.
After I took a gap year to prepare for medical school applications, I was hired as a student tutor by the Disability Service Center in Wichita, Kansas. During my time there, I taught college students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia a wide range of subjects, including Statistics, English, Mathematics and Biology.
Through this experience, not only did I learn the importance of concept based learning, I also profoundly cherished the bond I had with my students. I felt that through a positive relationship, I could get the best out of my students, giving them a desire to learn. I carry this same motivation to the Boys and Girls Club of Wichita, where I volunteer as a homework tutor and mentor to children between the 2nd and 12th grade.
I feel I would be able to benefit most learning styles as I, myself, struggled as a student. I truly understand what it feels like to be helpless when it comes to tough subject material and the impact it can have on the self-esteem of an individual. Therefore, I am confident I can do an excellent job not only teaching subject material, but connecting on a human level.