"My name is Austin. I am a 21 year old student at the University of Washington. At the time that I sought out tutoring I was enrolled in a pre-calculus class at my local community college. I will be the first to admit that I am not the most mathematically inclined individual and found that as new material was presented throughout the course it got more and more difficult for me to keep up. This was due to the fact that, in math, if you do not establish a solid foundation and understanding of the original concepts presented, it will be extremely difficult – if not impossible – to build upon. That said, I think the classroom setting has a lot to offer in terms of getting information out to large numbers of people, but one of its greatest downfalls, in my opinion, is in its ability to accommodate various different learning styles. Everyone has their own unique way of digesting information and it is not uncommon to find yourself in a situation where the teaching style is incongruent with your style of learning. This is where tutoring becomes useful, if not necessary. For me, I was lucky enough to have worked with Diana Gibson. What struck me the most was her ability to identify my learning style almost instantly and to then work within those parameters to help assist me in accomplishing my goals. This was especially impressive taking into consideration that our tutoring sessions were facilitated via telephone conversations. Between her wealth of knowledge, willingness to listen and overall patience with me, I was able to not only grasp the concepts that were giving me difficulty, but also achieve a grade that I otherwise would have not been able to get close to. It’s Diana’s dedication that sets her apart. Her enthusiasm and love for teaching is apparent from the moment you meet her and is a continuous source of inspiration and empowerment throughout the tutoring sessions. As a student who has faced the struggles of falling behind in class I can honestly say that tutoring makes a huge difference. And with that said, whether you find yourself having difficulty with just a few specific concepts here and there or whether you feel that as a whole you are falling further and further behind, I would recommend with my highest level of confidence Diana Gibson as your choice in tutor."
-- Austin E.