Patient Math & Stats Tutor— Florida State University Graduate Ready to Help You Succeed!

Find out more about Ryan

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I first developed an interest in mathematics in high school when I realized the subject came naturally to me compared to many of my classmates. Friends often turned to me for help during and outside of class, and I found it deeply rewarding to explain concepts in a way that made sense to them. That experience showed me how much I enjoyed supporting others in their learning. In college, I decided to build on that passion by tutoring more formally.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Now, mathematics as a subject is a really blanket term for what is really a huge interconnected web of different subjects. Formally, mathematics is “the abstract science of number, quantity, and space”. I spent my college career studying a wide range of these branches, and I found it almost beautiful how everything interconnects.
  
  There is a lot of ambiguity surrounding why we study math; I’ll hear people say all the time, “I’m never going to use the quadratic formula in real life, so what’s the point?” I think what a lot of people fail to see is that mathematics is logical reasoning; it is the practice of looking at our given information and using that to determine a solution, which we do all the time.

• 3) Did you have any role models, a teacher that inspired you?

  I take much of my inspiration as a tutor from my high school AP Physics teacher, Mr. Shelton. Every day, he would begin the class with light-hearted small talk and would crack jokes while he was teaching. Not only did this help me follow along with the material, but it made AP Physics a class I genuinely looked forward to attending. The AP Physics material was daunting in itself, so this made my experience so much better.

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  I think a good tutor is someone who helps make the material easier. Therefore, a good tutor should understand their own subject at a deep level and be able to explain it multiple ways while also being patient and encouraging.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  During my undergraduate studies, one of my most memorable experiences was in a “Complex Variables” course. The night before a big test, my classmates and I spent the entire night in the library working through problems together. While the material was stressful, I look back on that night fondly because it showed how much easier and even enjoyable learning can be when you approach challenges as a group. That experience reinforced for me the value of collaboration and patience—two things I now try to bring into my tutoring sessions.

• 6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  Because mathematics is such a broad subject, with each branch leading down its own rabbit hole, it can feel overwhelming to decide which direction to pursue. I’ve often found it challenging to narrow my focus, since there’s always more to learn. In college, for example, I had to balance my curiosity across areas like calculus, statistics, and physics while still building depth in my main interests. That challenge ultimately helped me appreciate how interconnected the subject is and taught me the importance of guiding students step by step so they don’t feel lost in the breadth of it all.

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I find it deeply rewarding to help people learn and to see the moment when a concept finally “clicks” in their minds. That sense of progress is what keeps me passionate about tutoring. I also make a point to keep a light-hearted, encouraging tone during my sessions so that learning feels less like a chore and more like an engaging, enjoyable process for both me and my students.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P)?

  I believe I am a Supeprof in that I explain complicated subject matter simply and intuitively. I make the subject matter approachable to anyone who wants to learn :)