PrepNow Tutor - Reggie Z.
“I love fostering a fun and stimulating learning environment by connecting with students through mutual interests like Pokémon, video games, or music,” Reggie says. Reggie holds a BS in applied mathematics and computer science from Brown University, where he is currently pursuing his MS in computer science. His career spans education, machine learning, and software engineering, as he has served as an undergraduate teaching assistant at Brown University, as a math and computer science instructor at a learning center, and as a software developer at Outlier AI.
Reggie started tutoring students as a summer job but quickly realized that he had a true passion for teaching. “That ‘aha!’ light bulb moment is what I strive for,” Reggie says. “My proudest moment was helping a student overcome severe math anxiety and go from failing tests to earning A-'s and B+'s. But it wasn't just about the grade; it was about watching his confidence bloom. He went from ‘I can't do this’ to ‘Okay, I know the next step is to combine like terms…’.” This experience taught Reggie that self-confidence is just as important as learning the educational material.
Throughout his career, Reggie has tutored algebra, geometry, trigonometry, Python, AP Calculus, and ACT prep. As a teaching assistant at Brown University, he’s taught Introductory Calculus, Partial Differential Equations, and Machine Learning. “My teaching style is based on engaging with students with back-and-forth conversations and bridging academic material and their interests,” Reggie says. “For example: Can I write a math problem about catching Pokémon or eating their favorite foods? Can a student and I walk through a complicated problem together?”
As a student, Reggie ran cross country, played competitive card games, and participated in esports. He enjoys hiking, collecting Pokémon cards, playing video games, hanging out with friends, and watching YouTube video essays. He won first place in the 2018 International Science and Engineering Fair, Mississippi Region II, and was rated most likely to become TikTok famous in the graduating class of 2020 at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.
