"Hi! My name is Secunda and I have always found joy in teaching others.

From a childhood summer spent tutoring my younger brother in math (which allowed him to test out of Pre-Algebra, passing the qualifying exam with a 91%), to my senior year of college, tutoring my peers at Columbia University in Organic Chemistry and Developmental Biology, I have been doing this for almost 10 years.

I graduated Columbia in 2022 and now work as a researcher, leading a project in developmental biology at Columbia’s Medical Center. As a person who learns best in small settings, I understand the value of one-on-one education. I realized early on the difference it made when teachers could adapt their approaches to fit individual learners. As a tutor, I strive to be as flexible with my methods as possible to ensure my lessons are effective.

I have tutored students from elementary school to college, both in-person and online. In high school, I tutored younger students in math and reading. In college, I volunteered in elementary school classrooms, helping students with reading, math, and writing. During the pandemic, I switched to virtually tutoring elementary and middle schoolers several times a week. I also held part-time jobs as an Organic Chemistry Peer Tutor at the student advising center and as a Teaching Assistant for Developmental Biology.

My tutoring style leads students to understanding through guiding questions that encourage critical thinking and reasoning. This way, I teach students how to engage with challenging material and pinpoint specific areas of confusion. I then find ways to explain content in ways that match students’ learning styles. I focus on developing students’ thinking and learning habits, while teaching them the facts they need to succeed.

I offer free 15-minute consultation sessions before the first lesson to get to know clients and their goals. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a lesson—I’d love to work with you!" less...