PrepNow Tutor - Tamu K.
Focused on expanding educational opportunities for underrepresented communities, Tamu has tutored in historically underserved schools, where they worked with students from various backgrounds and abilities. He has experience tutoring the following: Pre-K through 5th-grade math; reading and writing; and Algebra I and II. Having helped students with disabilities secure employment opportunities and led mental health support groups for uninsured individuals, Tamu is also well-versed in disability rights, ADA, and self-advocacy.
Tamu, whose pronouns are he/they, earned a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University. His tutoring journey began in high school when he helped peers in math and science. “Seeing their scores rise by full letter grades—and the friendships that grew along the way—sparked my love for teaching, even though I didn’t earn much for it,” they recount. At Princeton, they made an effort to work with students in reading, writing, and math in underserved and underprivileged areas outside the city.
His proudest moment “wasn’t just about academics,” he says. “It was also learning TikTok dances with my students; though I struggled at first, we had so much fun, and it reminded me that a classroom can be both a place to learn and a space for joy.”
Known for his positivity and “hype man” energy, Tamu brings a gentle, affirming, and encouraging approach to tutoring. His goal is to foster confidence and a genuine love of learning. “I make it a priority to highlight every area where a student has grown or successfully mastered a concept, helping them build confidence in their abilities,” they share. Tamu puts in extra effort to help students connect with concepts on a deeper level to ensure long-term comprehension and application skills. “I believe education is most rewarding when it connects to real life, so I often demonstrate how the material we’re learning applies to future challenges,” he says. Regarding test prep, Tamu emphasizes critical thinking, organization, and problem-solving abilities; consequently, students leave each session feeling accomplished and ready for the next challenge.
As a student, he was honored with membership in the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society for outstanding contributions to scientific research. He also earned the prestigious TigerFutures Fellowship to serve as an employment consultant, helping students with disabilities achieve career goals. During his time with the Transition Program at Easterseals, they’re proud to share that every client successfully secured employment and achieved proficiency ratings in every topic covered. “Seeing their growth and accomplishments remains one of my most rewarding professional achievements.”
In high school, they competed at the state level in public speaking and humorous interpretation. In college, they explored stand-up, sketch comedy, and literary arts.
When he’s not writing or reading poetry and fiction, he enjoys chatting with friends who live across the globe, doing yoga, scrolling through “excessive cat pictures and baby videos,” talking “too much” about anime, and dancing his heart out. Tamu’s claim to fame: “Pope Francis winked at me, and I won't shut up about it.”
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