Medical Student, Graduate of the University of British Columbia, 5+ years of professional tutoring experience: Highschool Math, Science, English and MCAT subjects

Find out more about Nicholas

• When and why did you develop an interest in your chosen field?

  I remember as a young child, after a series of hospitalizations, I made the conscious decision that when I grew up, I wanted to be a hockey player or a doctor. Never weighing over 150 pounds and a weak slapshot meant my path was quite clear. I was inspired by the deep knowledge my physicians had, their ability to communicate and distill such complicated topics to a child such as myself. This passion led to my education at UBC in the field of Microbiology and Immunology, dabbling in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics along the way. I found learning these topics informed a method of critical thinking that permitted a better understanding and curiosity of their world around us. After entering medical school, I continued my pursuit of learning. I quickly realized the secret agenda of medical school is not related to these hard sciences at all, instead, it is to teach students to properly listen to the needs of their patients, understand their concerns and expectations. This science of human communication and understanding has become my most recent interest, and I find I get to practice it every day with the students I teach.

• What makes you passionate about your subject?

  Put simply, I was one of those kids who really enjoyed the subjects taught in highschool and university. The more complicated answer is that developing a love of learning, or to be less cliche, an intrinsic, self-motivated drive to understand things, allows me to be passionate about a wide range of things. With regards to the subjects I most often tutor, physics, chemistry and math, these topics allow students the option to pursue their choice of STEM field later on in life. One of the most exciting outcomes for me is seeing students build a passion for any of these topics, building that intrinsic drive, and that to me is the reason I am passionate.

• What do you like about tutoring? What makes you a "Superprof"?

  My tutoring journey started as an accident. While volunteering at a federal election polling station, a coworker had a friend who needed more tutors, and as it turned out, premedical students were a hot commodity. That said, my medical prerequisites and communication skills, as well as a history of working as a child and youth care worker, made me a great fit for the job. The joys of this work are in getting to know my students and building up their trust in me as a teacher, as well as in witnessing their successes. As a student myself, I value the flexibility of tutoring and the different yet equally rewarding challenges it brings to my own life.
  
  In answering "what makes me a superprof", I find that my enthusiasm for my topics can encourage others to find enjoyment in answering questions or in the pursuit of understanding itself. My long career as a tutor, my ability to understand the needs and competency of my students, mand y ability to relate with and "be on the same level" as my students all make me a great tutor. I personally believe that students need to feel supported, not intimidated, when learning, allowing for an open forum of making mistakes and learning from them.

• Do you have any role models, a teacher who inspired you? Please explain.

  My grade 11 social studies teacher is a massive role model of mine. Not because I used any of the knowledge he taught in my day-to-day life (it turns out Louis Riel, while an important figure, did not play a large role in modern medicine), but in the way he inspired me as a learner and now as a teacher myself. He made learning fun, whether it was through impromptu sketches in the middle of class, acting out historical scenes, or simply the genuine enthusiasm he had for what he taught

• What are your keys to success?

  1. Understand my students. What interests them? What do they excel at, and what are they having trouble with?
  2. Build a foundation of knowledge and diagnose weaknesses in the foundation. Often difficulty in math, physics, or chemistry lies in a misunderstanding of simpler topics.
  3. Set goals and be realistic with expectations. Tutoring an hour a week is only one part of a student's learning journey, and setting goals and discussing routines can help students find their stride outside of tutoring.
  4. Create an atmosphere of learning. This massive cliché I apply to my students and myself; in fact, I am always learning from my students. This two-way knowledge sharing builds trust and encourages students to try their best!