PrepNow Tutor - Emmanuel H.
Since 2015, Emmanuel has worked with students in various STEM topics, including high school algebra, trigonometry, chemistry, elementary reading, English, and ACT prep. He earned a bachelor’s in computer science and communication of science, engineering, and technology from Vanderbilt University.
Since graduating, Emmanuel started his own software consulting business and has worked with clients of various professions and backgrounds. In addition to tutoring, he teaches with an after-school STEM enrichment program at schools across the Twin Cities. “I've taught subjects ranging from VR Development to Lego Robotics and more,” he notes.
Emmanuel initially tutored in high school to gain extra volunteer hours, but he loved it so much that he continued tutoring throughout his academic career. A particularly proud teacher moment involved bumping into a student years later at the same library where they met to work on algebra II and AP Calculus. “I glanced at his sheet and saw him using the same study and note-taking techniques I had originally taught him,” he recounts. “There were a few notable changes: fewer bullet points, more hand-drawn images (big for calculus in particular), and maybe a few more example problems; but if nothing else, these were signs that he'd made the techniques his own. Seeing that he had found genuine use for the skills we covered, that our lessons weren't just a means to passing a singular class, but followed him and supported him through his subsequent academic challenges, meant quite a bit to me,” he reflects.
Learning and resilience go hand in hand for Emmanuel. “It has been my experience that a student's biggest determining factor for success is whether or not they believe they can actually learn the material, and whether they can suffer being confused along the way,” he offers. His goal is to promote a sense of patience and curiosity that allows students to push through any learning struggles, ultimately fostering perseverance and confidence.
Emmanuel is sensitive to students’ stress about standardized tests, and how even test prep can sow fear, doubt, and frustration. “So my major goals, especially at first, are to 1) focus on building an environment where a student is comfortable being wrong, and 2) bring structure to the learning experience that gives students confidence in the process and assurance in their ability to improve,” he explains. “I don't ever need my students to be perfect, to have learned ALL the content, or to understand every question; I just need them to come back to the next meeting ready to put the same level of effort forward that they did the day before.”
A diligent student, Emmanuel was on the honor roll throughout middle and high school and graduated in the top 10% of his class. He’s also proud to share that he became a data associate at Vanderbilt's John Joseph Bishop Center after completing a year-long Data Analyst internship.
Outside the classroom, “I was a track and cross country boy through and through,” he says. “But if I wasn't outside running, you'd either find me in jazz band, math team, Science Olympiad, or at the after-school anime club!”
These days, he still loves running, hiking, and being outside. An avid reader, he has what he calls “an unfortunate addiction to all things sci-fi fantasy.” He also loves cooking and hosting bi-weekly dinners for friends and family.
Fun fact: “Legend has it, I learned how to run BEFORE I learned how to walk. But that could just be something a mother would say when raising a particularly unruly and energetic toddler, which I certainly was!”
