I graduated school with the highest score possible in English (99) . I have won multiple medals in international English olympiads and have gotten the perfect score in the Pearson's Test of English

Find out more about Diva

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  Ever since I was a kid, I've been deeply interested in the intricacies of the English language, as well as science. As a striving perfectionist, I'm always looking for ways to grow, learn, and evolve, and a dynamic profession like tutoring seemed like the perfect way to achieve that. Helping students who share similar goals and interests fuels my motivation to keep improving myself. And if my nitpicking attention to detail happens to help students improve their grades too, then what's the harm? Haha.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach and the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I teach English, particularly creative writing, although I constantly update my lessons and resources to complement each student's individual needs. If a grammar lesson or two will help a student perform better, I'm happy to take a brief detour before returning to creative writing and helping them put their thoughts into words effectively.
  
  In addition to English, I also tutor science, particularly Chemistry and Biology. I am currently an undergraduate student at the Australian National University, pursuing a Bachelor of Medical Science. My degree is heavily focused on Biology and Chemistry, and that academic background, combined with my previous knowledge of the subjects, allows me to assist students with coursework, assignments, and exam preparation.
  
  As for favourite topics, I absolutely love Organic Chemistry and Genetics/Cancer Biology. I could happily talk about those for hours.

• Did you have any role models or teachers who inspired you?

  I had one particularly critical English teacher in high school who shaped me into the tutor I am today. She taught me to look beyond English as simply a subject and instead appreciate the minute details of both written and spoken language.
  
  For science, my Chemistry tutor in Years 11 and 12 was my backbone. Without him, I genuinely don't think I'd be able to solve even a single chemistry equation. I owe much of my chemistry knowledge to him, alongside my college teacher who saw the potential in me, and motivated me at every point of my journey.
  
  Although I don't study or tutor Physics, my college teacher played a huge role in shaping who I am today. She inspired my work ethic, my resilience, and my passion for STEM.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Some non-negotiables for me are patience, clear communication, and being open to feedback and constructive criticism. A good tutor needs to understand their audience, recognise their current level of understanding, and be willing to meet them there.
  
  Most importantly, you need to be able to explain a concept in different ways until it finally clicks. No student should ever feel uncomfortable asking questions, no matter how many times they need something explained.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  One moment that has always stayed with me was receiving my final English result in India. I scored 99/100, and our headmaster, who also taught us English, told me that it was the closest anyone had come to a perfect score at our school in over a decade. As someone who genuinely loved the subject, that was a very proud moment for me.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced, or are still facing, in your subject?

  One of the biggest challenges I faced while studying Biology was the sheer volume of terminology. No matter which branch of Biology you're studying, having a strong grasp of the fundamentals is absolutely essential.
  
  Early on, I sometimes found myself focusing on memorising advanced concepts without fully understanding the basics first. Once I strengthened my foundation, everything became much easier to learn and connect together.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general, an element of the subject, or something completely different?

  My passion is a combination of teaching and my never-ending pursuit of excellence within STEM. I've wanted to work in the sciences for as long as I can remember.
  
  No matter how difficult things have become or how many obstacles I've faced, if I were given the chance to start over, I would choose science every single time. It's a field that constantly challenges me, and that's exactly what I love about it.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions)?

  I think what makes me a Superprof is my humility. When you're teaching someone from scratch, you have to put your achievements and any ego that comes with them aside.
  
  I never get frustrated when a student doesn't understand something immediately. Instead, I try to put myself in their shoes and remember how I would have felt learning a difficult concept for the first time. Every student learns differently and at their own pace, and I believe it's my job to adapt to them, not the other way around.