PrepNow Tutor - Opal B.
"I am a transgender woman who has been working in teaching and tutoring for seven years now," says Opal. "I love learning languages, reading, watching movies, and taking walks." Opal holds a BA in Asian studies with minors in political science, Japanese, and economics from Belmont University. She has worked as a teacher since 2023 in both school-based and private settings.
Opal began tutoring in college after frequently helping her younger sister and classmates with homework, which naturally led to her first professional roles tutoring Japanese and Chinese. Over time, she expanded her experience to include writing and standardized test prep (ISEE and ACT); she also has been instructing across elementary, middle, and high school subjects (including math, English, German, and additional world languages). Since 2023, she has worked as a teacher on subjects such as Latin, math (8th grade topics, statistics, geometry, and algebra 1 & 2) and languages (elementary Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese). “My proudest moment as a teacher was when I learned that my fourth-grade student had tested at a seventh-grade reading level,” Opal reflects.
Opal describes her teaching style as interactive and student-centered, focused on meeting learners where they are. “I engage students in discussion and ask frequent questions to understand not only whether they know an answer, but how they arrived at it,” she says. “I create a relaxed and supportive atmosphere where students feel comfortable asking questions.”
In high school, Opal was on the air rifle varsity team and participated in the Boy Scouts of America. In college, she was a Belmont Bridge Builders Member, the founder and president of the foreign language club, and a member of the Chinese cultural club, Japanese cultural club, and fighting game club.
She continues to study languages for pleasure and enjoys practicing with others. Opal is a member of Phi Sigma Iota, Omicron Delta Kappa, Omicron Delta Epsilon, and Alpha Chi, and has received numerous academic accolades. Currently, she hosts a Spanish study group and attends Esperanto practice meetings. She also enjoys listening to German punk music.
