Tutor Spotlight: Eliza

Tell us a little about yourself.

I have been working in Art Galleries and the antiquities field since finishing first college and then my postgraduate work. My work has taken me to live in such places as London and New York, and most recently Atlanta. I have lectured on the history of dining in paintings from the Middle Ages through 1800; Arts and Crafts Silversmiths; and fashion depicted in the work of nineteenth century painters. Professionally, I have contributed to exhibition catalogs covering a variety of topics from 17th century Decorative Arts to Contemporary African art to Scottish Rag Rugs. In addition to this, I have worked for many years tutoring and teaching a variety of students of all ages, from 3rd grade to PhD candidates, on topics ranging from test prep to thesis review. I began tutoring while in high school initially for ESL classes and continued tutoring a wide variety of topics through university, even teaching Art History at the University of St. Andrews at one point. I am an avid and diverse reader-reading everything from politics to sci-fi, and everything in between. Additionally, I work with Amadan Studios LLC, a video game design company, where I am both CFO and a staff writer.

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

That there is always something more to learn-you never know enough, or as much as you think you do.

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

A student who felt defeated by their English classes, a combination of difficult material and a series of bad teachers through the years, has, after extensive work with the material, found, if not a love, a real appreciation for literature. He will go on to college to study theoretical physics and mathematics, but admits that he now enjoys reading in his spare time. Working with kids isn't just about the scores on the tests, those are momentary victories. The most important work that a tutor can do is to help open the doors for a child; making them a better adult.

What advice would you have for your students?

Things are never as hard, or as difficult, as you think that they are. Keep trying.