Tutor Spotlight: Jenna

Tell us a little about yourself.

While I hail from New York, I currently call Chicago home. Before settling in the windy city, I first studied anthropology at Yale University as an undergraduate, traveled across Europe and the Middle East, pursued my MA at one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, and survived the everyday grind in my hometown of NYC for several years. In the fall I will begin my PhD in sociocultural anthropology at the University of Chicago, where I will research the intersections of visual media, humanitarian and human rights law, and social activism in the modern Middle East.

What is one thing you've learned this year about your area of expertise?

This year I’ve learned how crucial pacing is to a student’s success. Everyone knows that moving too slowly means you’ll run out of time and rushing will lead to careless mistakes. Pacing, however, is so much more significant than this: feeling out of control of the clock can be mentally, even physically exhausting. Standardized tests are marathons, so you can’t afford to waste any energy. Figuring out and then practicing the right pace for you can make all the difference!

What is a recent "success story" with your families?

I work with a lot of students who are absolutely brilliant but who don’t believe in their test taking abilities. They think of themselves as “poor test takers” or “bad at math” long enough for these labels to become self-fulfilling prophesies. With these students I focus on developing a strong rapport, maintaining clear and reasonable standards, and consistently offering positive reinforcement. For most, this is all it takes to unleash their potential!

What advice would you have for your students?

Remember to keep standardized tests in perspective. Sure, this is a big deal, and you’re going to have to study if you want to improve your score. But when the pressure feels like it’s getting to be too much, and you’d rather sleep in than take that mock test, remember that this is just one small step. You have a fantastic future ahead of you!