PrepNow Tutor - Johnny E.
Johnny sees himself largely as a student advocate. He holds a BA in political science from Pomona College. As his specialization suggests, Johnny is devoted to understanding how social and political opportunities are fostered or restricted. This bent, and the fact that he was just beginning his college education when the pandemic occurred, have led him to an enduring interest in providing equal and appropriate opportunities for students. Indeed, his primary advocacy at Pomona College involved marshalling a campus-wide effort to add remote coursework options for students. To this end, Johnny formed a petition, set meetings with school administrators, created social media and newspaper coverage for the cause, presented his goals to student government, and maintained weekly strategy meetings. Though a universal remote option was not enacted, Johnny’s group got the full support of the student government, and many professors were swayed to offer remote instruction options that last to this day. In addition, his effort was so noteworthy that he was featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
As one might intuit from his political advocacy, Johnny is a student-centered instructor. He sees fostering an open and honest environment as his primary goal. Once such an environment is set, he posits, students can feel confident and supported and are more apt to actively pursue their own success. Too often, he says, “Teachers try to mold students into a single type, and that is not possible or productive; I want to be there for whatever a student needs.” A big part of figuring out just what each student needs is asking questions. While this can seem like an obvious approach, Johnny knows that probing and relevant questioning leads to understanding and trust and allows him to adapt to each student.
When Johnny is not working with or for students, he stays active. In high school, he was the captain of the cross-country team and ran track. He still loves to work out, calling himself a “gym rat,” but he has expanded his interests into more expressive areas, too. One of his current loves, for example, is pottery. Though he is a relative beginner, he diligently works on his mugs, planters, and bowls; he hopes to soon be able to produce an entire dining set. Also, Johnny is a burgeoning chef, specializing in high-protein, nutritious vegan meals. His current favorite recipes are mushroom risotto with lentils, Thai red curry, and butter chick’n.
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