PrepNow Tutor - Gabija K.
Autodidact and teacher, Gabija has tutored myriad subjects, including math and topics in STEM. She received her BA in history from Columbia University and then started her colorful trajectory in education. Due to her extensive experience tutoring in high school and college, Gabija landed a summer job at a children's enrichment center (similar to a YMCA), teaching poetry to kids of all ages. She later taught computer science at a private school in Brooklyn. "I became a curriculum developer and instructor in afterschool and before-school programs—writing and teaching STEM curriculums on topics such as robotics and neuroscience—and solidifying my transition into STEM education in spite of my humanities background," she explains.
Gabija started tutoring after high school as a supplemental source of income. While she has extensively tutored AP history topics, she has also taught writing, elementary education, and SAT prep with a special focus on algebra. "I see my role as tutor as someone whose job it is to not just explain information but to make my students capable of finding and understanding it themselves and so that they have the skills to continue to solve problems in the future," she notes.
Gabija's approach is holistic and designed to suit the student's needs. "I focus heavily on developing my students' critical thinking skills and empowering them to find answers; I always look for opportunities to ask my students leading questions that will allow them to arrive at the answers on their own," she says. Once she gets to know the student, she identifies study strategies that fit their style, which she continually reinforces. "Lastly, when identifying a student's weak areas, I go beyond content knowledge to identify areas of learning (and especially test taking) that the student lacks confidence in," she offers. Her goal is to empower students to succeed on their own.
"I am proud of the fact that I was a humanities person who transitioned into STEM education by teaching myself programming," says Gabija. This experience gave her confidence and informed her work as an educator. "I take great pride whenever I get to show students who lack confidence in their knowledge of STEM, that they can learn it too!"
Gabija has received several awards for creative writing and has seen her poetry published in numerous journals. She also received a scholarship for character as well as service to schools and the community.
Currently, Gabija enjoys embroidery, chess, and swimming. She is also active in community clean-ups of public parks. Fun fact: Having moved to the US from Lithuania at age 13, Gabija has always been eager to learn about other cultures. "I was born in a country that is smaller than most American states," she shares.
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