Lauren L was our very first tutor hire and as we rapidly approach the first anniversary of No Nonsense Education, it is only right that we also congratulate her for a stellar first year’s work as a No Nonsense tutor! We also sat down with her for a quick chat last month to ask her a few questions about her motivation to tutor, how she balances it with a busy schedule as an undergraduate at Imperial College (University of London) as well as her interests outside of tutoring…
What are you up to at the moment outside of tutoring? And what proportion of your working time is spent tutoring?
I am going into my third year of Biochemistry at Imperial College London. Aside from my busy schedule, I love anything crafty (particularly crocheting) and hands on as a way to relax and unwind!
Why did you get into tutoring?
In Sixth Form, I was asked to mentor some of the students at our Junior School. Initially, this started as a task for my personal statement and CV, but it became very fulfilling. I found that children can often ask the wisest questions and make you think harder than adults! I absolutely loved (and still love) helping to facilitate the moment when children find out how amazing Science is. So it was only natural that I continued tutoring into my tertiary education!
What has been the most rewarding moment for you as a tutor thus far?
Whenever students have a “eureka” moment when things they have been taught in class finally click into place is extremely rewarding. Often, I find this goes hand in hand with students gaining confidence to ask questions and being unafraid to sound silly. Overall, being able to pivot a student’s mindset from one that is focused entirely on grades to one that enjoys the entire process of learning and being academically challenged is extremely rewarding.
How do you see tutoring improving tutees’ lives and prospects, as an addition to their mainstream education?
A big goal of mine as a tutor is to foster a love of learning in my students. In mainstream education, where the emphasis is primarily on grades and excelling in a very narrow sense of the word, it is easy to lose motivation and curiosity. A more holistic approach to learning in which students have more freedom to ask questions and “not know”, allows them to deeply understand the material and expand beyond the syllabus. In the long run, this desire for knowledge translates into a more sustainable and improved academic performance.
What are your interests/hobbies?
I find that my hobbies mainly consist of creating something tangible that can be enjoyed. This mainly includes crafts like knitting and crocheting in which I can create winter sweaters and summer garments, or, cooking and baking goods that I can share with loved ones. In addition to this, I love anything water, ocean and beach related – my favourite activities include water sports like kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and wake surfing.
And finally, what’s your main piece of advice for other tutors?
My advice to tutors is similar to all of my life advice: be kind, be patient, and have fun. I find that a large part of a student’s journey is developing academic confidence. Sometimes, this comes naturally, but more often than not, it is very difficult as a student to admit that you do not know or have forgotten content. Although discipline is important, encouraging students to keep trying and overcome challenges is even more important. Additionally, learning does not have to be boring – there are only so many lessons where you can make your students do past papers! Switching up lesson styles never hurts!