PrepNow Tutor - Melanie C.
Enthusiastic, bubbly, with a love for helping others, Melanie can often be found outdoors, bird watching. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from American Public University with a bachelor’s in space studies. She remained at APU to study astronomy and physics for her master’s degree, for which she also earned Latin honors. In college, Melanie was a member of multiple honor societies including the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
For the majority of her college career, Melanie worked at a planetarium in a science museum. During that time, she also worked with Students for the Exploration and Development of Space—ultimately serving on their board of directors. After graduation, Melanie became the education and astronomy director at an astronomical observatory in the southeastern US. She currently teaches mathematics to middle and high school students. Melanie also teaches astronomy and physics at the college level.
Melanie first started teaching at the planetarium. She also tutored her college peers in introductory material through to orbital mechanics courses. At the same time, Melanie tutored high school students in algebra and trigonometry. Once she moved to the observatory, it became a regular part of her job to teach everything from stellar fusion to trigonometry to geologic identification. Currently, about a third of the students she tutors are preparing for the SAT. In total, she has over a decade of experience teaching and tutoring.
“I love helping and inspiring others,” says Melanie. Her teaching style is both patient and attentive. She particularly enjoys encouraging students to try something hard, then coaching them through it. Melanie believes that “all students desperately want to learn, but they need patience and help to guide them.” Beyond simple guidance, “students need a sense of accomplishment and encouragement when they do learn.” As a tutor, Melanie views herself as a facilitator. Most importantly, she says, “a student can only truly fail when they give up. I won’t let them give up.”
In order to demonstrate physics concepts, Melanie enjoys throwing knives at a homemade target! In school, she practiced martial arts—including Krav Maga. She also fenced and swam. She still fences and works out regularly. Melanie likes to hike and kayak. Reading is a favored pastime, and history books are her preference.
