Elizabeth Coulter

I believe that, as someone who wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until my 20s, I offer a unique perspective on learning and advancing one’s education. Graduating high school as valedictorian and going on to be a University Scholar on the Dean’s List in college, I never had any trouble with excelling academically. During COVID when everything moved online, however, my grades started to slip. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t able to just function as a normal college student.

Once diagnosed, I learned a lot about myself and the way I learned. It doesn’t just boil down to being a visual, auditory, or hands-on learner. Are flashcards helpful? An informational video? Maybe something more creative, like painting a picture or using clay models, would be effective. I understand needing to depart from traditional avenues to find a learning journey that fits a student’s specific needs.

My experience in both high school and college also lend themselves to being a fantastic tutor. While in college, I served as the unofficial tutor for my friend group for Calculus 1, and I continuously and habitually make a point to incorporate math, reading, and writing into my life. Completing problems that require keeping up-to-date on my math skills are a common occurrence, and I write daily - from journaling to prose to poetry. I also read often - currently I am working through Euripedes’ Medea, and Wikipedia dives are one of my favorite activities.

There are so many skills and traits that I possess that make me a good tutor, but above all, I promote and try to foster a love of knowledge everywhere I go. Our most important asset as human beings are our brains, and I believe we should be doing everything we can to nurture them.