PrepNow Tutor - Jenny J.
Enthusiastic tutor and medical assistant Jenny has worked with students since 2013 in a wide range of settings. She has taught myriad topics, including K-8 reading and writing, along with math, computer science, neuroscience, biochemistry, and algebra. Jenny graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in neuroscience in 2024. Since college, she has been interested in both medicine and teaching. "I just love developing great relationships, empowering, and learning from others," she says. "So I have been working as a clinical assistant and front desk receptionist at an outpatient clinic (neurosurgery + physiatry + orthopedic!) and volunteering as a teacher in a home school program. Both have been wonderful!"
As a fifth grader, Jenny started assisting at her Sunday School and fell in love with helping kids learn. "I also had amazing teachers who really sparked my interest in different subjects and fueled my passion for tutoring," she adds. In high school, Jenny tutored at her local middle school and elementary school. "In college, I met wonderful professors who inspired me to continue, and since freshman year, I have been tutoring a variety of grade levels and subject areas," she shares. She has tutored K-6 math, reading, and writing for four years; she was both a college teaching assistant and college peer tutor in a variety of subjects, namely intro to computer science, data structures, discrete structures, biochemistry, human physiology, and synaptic transmission (neuroscience). She also worked in a community after-school program, helping K-5 students in math, reading, writing, and educational STEM activities. Currently, she teaches algebra, health/anatomy, and physiology for a homeschool program.
In her freshman year of college, which was largely online due to COVID, Jenny had the opportunity to informally tutor a fellow Intro to Computer Science (CS) student every week via video chat. "Years later, he reached out to me, thanking me for believing in him and sparking his interest in CS," she offers. "When he told me about how he was now a CS major and doing amazing things in computing, I was so proud of him and so thankful for the impact I was able to make. It is my goal to make a similar impact at StudyPoint, too!"
Jenny's teaching style is highly personalized, and she incorporates real-world experiences in her explanations. "Generally, I try to ask leading questions that guide students to break down problems into smaller steps and think through the problem on their own," she explains. "However, when a concept is new or when a refresher is helpful, I explain the idea using a combination of visuals, analogies, real-world examples, mnemonics, and concept maps." To gauge understanding, she then encourages the student to explain the concept back to her or draw it out. She believes that the more connections between a concept and an individual’s experiences, the more the concept will stick. "Thus, I always try to present new ideas in multiple formats," she says. "Of course, it is a whole lot more fun to engage with ideas this way, too!"
At Pittsburgh, Jenny was on the dean’s list every semester and received the Outstanding Freshman Biology Award from the Biology Department. She also received a President’s Volunteer Service Award for her service as a student coordinator at America Reads Challenge.
In high school, Jenny was in the marching band and was in a Christian acapella group in college. She currently loves trying new recipes in the kitchen. "Recently, I have been trying to read up on nutrition and to revamp previous recipes so that they are more health-conscious." Jenny's also big on arts and crafts, reading biographies, taking walks outside, and music—she's currently learning ukulele.
Her favorite place to go is Longwood Gardens. It is a botanical garden and conservancy that showcases different plants each session. "There are also lots of events and learning opportunities too!"
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