PrepNow Tutor - Sam S.
A test prep tutor since 2019, Sam earned his BS in public health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and then his MPH from Emory University. After graduating from college, he worked for two years at a local health center focused on HIV. “My role involved HIV testing and outreach while also building partnerships throughout the community,” Sam shares. He eventually transitioned into working for the North Carolina State Health Department as a contact tracer. Later, following graduate school, Sam became a patient navigator, working with patients for HIV prevention. “I was promoted last year to Sexual Health Program Coordinator and now manage grants related to HIV and Hepatitis C testing, do internal training for staff on sexual health and LGBTQ+ issues, and coordinate outreach initiatives within the community,” Sam explains.
As Sam has always been a strong test-taker, he frequently worked as a teaching assistant and tutor in college. After going through the GRE studying process, he decided to start tutoring test prep specifically. “What I enjoy the most is improving skills we don't always associate with tests, like confidence and self-assurance,” Sam says. “Most students aren't going to remember the Pythagorean theorem in ten years, but they might remember how their confidence helped them do better than they expected.” Sam has tutored both in-person and virtual and while most of his students are focused on SAT math, he also has a healthy mix of SAT verbal and high school math.
“I generally tutor with a positivity mindset,” Sam says. “I like to make lessons fun and get to know students, and for them to get to know me. Students (especially with math) can get discouraged with the content, so I like to focus on their strengths and encourage the positives while also talking through opportunities for growth. Some of my philosophies regarding education include a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset and pushing students, but never pushing a student so far outside their comfort zone that they shut down.”
Sam played basketball in high school and club tennis in college. He is an avid tennis player, enjoys journaling, and considers himself to be a social butterfly. Sam has worked with AmeriCorps, and his group was recognized by former Baltimore City Health Commissioner and current CNN Medical Analyst, Dr. Leana Wen. As an Emory student, he was one of four recipients of the James W. Curran scholarship. Sam used to work at a casino as a craps dealer.
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