PrepNow Tutor - Naya O.
Tropical conservation biologist Naya loves the concept of knowing. One of their favorite activities is learning and they enjoy helping others through that process of discovery. Naya earned their bachelor’s at University of Colorado Boulder, where they studied environmental science and graduated cum laude. While working on their honors thesis as an undergrad, Naya worked as a water quality scientist. They transitioned from there to marine mammal conservation and fisheries management.
Naya is currently a doctoral candidate enrolled in two universities—University of Hawaii Hilo and CU Boulder. At UH Hilo, Naya is working toward a master’s in tropical conservation biology and environmental science. At CU Boulder, Naya is earning a PhD in environmental studies. Their doctoral studies encompass marine mammal conservation, community stewardship, and fisheries. Naya was honored to receive the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Grant, to serve as a GLAAD Ambassador, and to be a Global Sustainability Scholar.
Early in Naya’s graduate studies they worked as a TA, teaching introduction to environmental science. They enjoyed it so much that they immediately started tutoring privately. Naya says, “I adore setting a productive learning environment and beneficial study habits to unlock a student's academic potential.” Additionally, they are a research mentor who guides early career students through their first time researching. With Naya’s strong STEM background, they are well suited to teaching any level of biology, ecology, marine conservation, or environmental science, as well as mathematics up to pre-calculus. They also teach elementary and middle school students in all subjects.
Test preparation strategies and materials are a comfortable subject for Naya as they were an Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate student in high school. They were enrolled in the accelerated three-year path as an undergrad. They are also a seasoned GRE taker. These experiences have made them into an ideal SAT and ACT tutor.
When asked about their teaching philosophy, Naya says “establishing expectations and good study habits up front” is important for the tutoring dynamic. Naya also believes it is necessary to be well versed “in the accommodation of any student at any level.” More importantly, Naya wants to create a love for learning in order to make tutoring more rewarding, often doing this by “gamifying the experience.” Beyond the tutoring sessions themselves, they hope to reinforce strong points and create foundations for areas of improvement to give students the tools to better approach the remainder of their education. Ultimately, Naya is “firm but forgiving.”
Naya rarely sits still. In high school, they were the captain of the field hockey team and roller hockey team. In college, they added ice hockey and jiu jitsu to their repertoire. Naya is also a scuba diver and swim instructor. They love to hang with their dogs, drink tea, and explore both the physical and intellectual universe.
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