Having fought against Tourette’s, OCD, and other medical setbacks to reach UC Berkeley, I want to help others succeed regardless of any external circumstances. I truly believe any student can succeed with a personalized system and that setbacks never define potential.

One specific experience that comes to mind is when I was trying to explain to a friend in college a confusing concept regarding the stoichiometry of atomic elements vs their natural state(in this case it was O2). I noticed that my explanations were not working and suspected that it was because he lacked the background to understand what my explanations were rooted in. From there, I took a metaphorical step back and broke the problem down into its fundamentals that could each be explained separately. We went through them together to find what he already knew, and it was my job to explain the other concepts he needed in an approachable way that built upon the others. After doing this, he had everything he needed and was able to solve it without me saying any more!

One of my specific coaching strengths is empathy, which comes from personal experience and challenges, as well as my open nature about them. As well, I have a talent for breaking complex topics into easy to understand metaphors/alternative explanations, and experience in strengthening executive functions despite limitations.

A positive environment is highly organized yet flexible to individual needs, providing a safe space for "productive struggle." It must ensure that students feel comfortable tackling challenges independently while knowing that asking for help is rewarded in the learning process. It ends up being a system based in trust.

Mentoring someone is a true, friendly relationship that is established for development both professionally and personally. I often feel like mentorship is a buzz word thrown around to describe something "pseudo-corporate." To me, it involves a much more holistic approach. The establishment of trust, open communication, and the reflection it permits ensures that both mentors and mentees grow as individual throughout the process.