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(Winter 2024) – Tianlee Chu, a San Francisco native, believes that “tutoring forges a positive mutual brain connection unlike almost anything else in the world. When two people work together to learn challenging subjects, they have to listen and respond actively to one another, and be willing to be vulnerable.”

Tianlee discovered his passion for teaching while navigating his own academic challenges in college. Determined to assist others in harnessing their high school’s resources and overcoming obstacles on the way to college, he found his way to SMART in 2020. Drawn by the community and chance to make a meaningful impact in education, Tianlee embraced the opportunity to volunteer.

As an alumnus of San Francisco schools, Tianlee intimately understands the city’s education system. With a practical understanding of what students need for success in science and engineering careers, he looks forward to guiding students through middle and high school. Tianlee emphasizes the importance of both coursework and extracurricular activities in shaping successful career paths.

Volunteers like Tianlee are fundamental to the success of SMART Scholars. Collaborating with a Scholar’s Advisor, family, and school, they are committed to guiding Scholars toward academic and personal triumphs. After working with SMART Scholar, Ikeer, until his high school graduation in 2022, Tianlee began weekly tutoring with Ikeer’s brother, Josgar, who is currently in 8th grade at Children’s Day School.

Tianlee’s favorite part of tutoring Josgar is witnessing his passion and dedication for learning. Tianlee shares, “I have found that it is rare for an 8th grader to have the hunger for knowledge that he does, so it is always a gift for me to meet him every week.”

Describing Josgar as a fantastic Scholar with both good hair and a good heart, Tianlee commends Josgar’s relentless pursuit of success despite facing more obstacles than his peers. Their relationship is built on trust, and together, they tackle and overcome academic challenges.

The piano, Tianlee’s favorite instrument, influences his approach to each tutoring session. Just as he can select different styles to play on the piano depending on the mood he’s searching for, he reflects the instrument’s versatility and dynamics in molding his teaching style to Josgar’s challenges or interests of the day.

“I try to identify the ways he naturally likes to learn…” For instance, if Josgar shows a desire to gain deeper insight into science, Tianlee tailors their lesson to an interesting real-world example of science.

One standout memory for Tianlee is the collaborative effort on Josgar’s high school application essays during Fall 2023.

“This is how I truly got to know him, when he was sharing with me about his life, and I was sharing mine.” The collaborative journey allowed them to share stories, discover common ground, and shape a compelling narrative that captured Josgar’s unique experiences and aspirations, igniting a newfound passion and skill for writing.

After a long and dedicated high school application process, Josgar produced and submitted five polished essays that effectively expressed the stories of his life in a mature and profound manner. He looks forward to continuing his educational journey with Tianlee through high school and beyond.