PrepNow Tutor - Leila M.
A bubbly, enthusiastic, and down-to-earth tutor, Leila enjoys helping students reach their potential. “There's nothing I love more than sharing my knowledge and putting a smile on someone's face,” she says. Leila holds a BS magna cum laude in chemistry—with a minor in biology—from Delaware State University. After graduating, she worked in the Delaware Public Health Laboratory as a biologist and ran influenza tests. She is currently pursuing a PhD in medicinal chemistry from Rutgers University.
Leila started tutoring in high school, initially teaching ESL to young students. “I just adore seeing that ah-ha moment in students when something they were struggling with finally clicks,” she says. “I love building connections with students and seeing them succeed.” Her professional tutoring career kicked off in 2016 when she taught ESL through an after-school program, and later Spanish to students in grades K-8. From 2019 to 2022, she worked as a TEAL fellow in general chemistry and organic chemistry classes and hosted both private and group tutoring sessions. More recently, Lelia tutored through Delaware State University's tutoring program, working with students in math, chemistry, and biology. “Every student that came to me regularly excelled in organic chemistry, despite telling me they didn't do well in general chemistry,” Lelia recalls. “They told me multiple times they wanted me as their teacher! I even helped inspire one of my former students to be a tutor after I graduated.”
When asked about her tutoring style, Leila explains, “When faced with a problem, the student and I will first look at a similar problem, leaving the problem on their page available for practice.” They then examine the question and consider what the problem is really asking, and from there work through it together. “Once we have successfully worked through the first problem together, I get the student to talk aloud as they work through the next. This helps the thinking process and allows them to catch a mistake more easily.” Leila always caters to each specific student’s needs, whether this means her walking them through more problems or re-explaining a concept from a different perspective. “I am a very accommodating tutor and here for the students, so their learning style always takes precedence,” she says. Leila absolutely loves math, both as a student and a tutor, and consequently also loves test prep. During her lessons, she always goes over different test-taking strategies.
In high school, Leila participated in Science Outreach and Odyssey of the Mind, which she now judges. She was the vice president of her university's alliance of minority participants. In her spare time, Leila enjoys crocheting and free writing. “I also love unwinding by watching a good movie or listening to music (I am a big Taylor Swift fan!) and playing the Sims,” she shares. “I can recite the entire Lion King movie.”
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