I am a Hesperia, CA native, and as a byproduct, I never experienced the pleasure of being part of a thriving academic community. I grew up riding bicycles, riding motorcycles, working with tools, and spending time with my small group of friends. Not one of my friends enjoyed or prioritized school or academic topics. As a result, I never thought twice about the value or joy of academic education in my youth.

At the age of 18, I moved to Pasadena, CA where I was first introduced to the beauty that is present in academia. I studied photography, design, Chinese, doubled the required units needed in general education simply to learn more, and, most importantly, I discovered the pure beauty of math. 

It was at Pasadena City College (PCC) where I first began my rigorous, formal education in mathematics. PCC was also where I first started tutoring math. During my first college-level math course at PCC, I became a math tutor (and shortly after became the lead math tutor) at PCC’s Math Success Center (MSC). 

The MSC was a place where students of all ages and math levels could study, seek help with math, and make new connections / friends whom also love math. This is where I learned of the community that a good tutoring center can build. This is also where I witnessed dozens of students overcome their math anxiety. 

The experience I had tutoring in the MSC lead me to transfer to UC Davis where I later received a B.S. in General Mathematics.

My goal with High Desert Math Tutor is to build a tutoring center where students can go to study, get help with math, and make friends and connect with others in the area. I want to build a community that prizes education and everything education has to offer. 

I plan to offer affordable prices for tutoring, and offer extended tutoring hours. Once the center is open, I will promote group tutoring where students of similar math levels can group together, work on math, and ask questions as needed. 

Though $25 is the “hourly group-style tutoring rate,” students will have access to the center to study for up to three hours per visit. This allows students the time needed to receive tutoring in math, spend the time they need working on homework / self-studying, and take the time they need to foster relationships with other students in the center. Note: Private tutoring will also be available at an appropriate price. 

The budget I have allocated strictly covers the cost for renting a space for one year, purchasing whiteboards, tables, chairs, and other necessities. I already have the necessary computers, math packages / graphing software, tutoring materials, lesson plans, etc. to operate the center. 

To justify the cost: The ideal tutoring location will have one large area that can accommodate 60+ persons, in addition to several smaller rooms for private tutoring, private-group tutoring, supplies, etc.

I will not be using money from the budget to pay myself for the time I spend tutoring, developing content, setting up the center, etc.