My name is Helen but I often go by Evellyn :)

I live in West Cumbria on the coastline and enjoy kayaking and standing aimlessly on my windsurf board.

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Why I do what I do:

I tutor because I think that the academic system, as good as it's intentions may be, is deeply flawed. Knowledge and skills are important to every student but it can come with a heavy price - anxiety, stress and the continual feeling of "not good enough". "I can't do it".

 

So often I see students who tie a part of their self worth to the numbers in a grade (I did for a long time), and all it does is harm the student.

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I find it difficult when I see students thinking in wonderfully creative and unique ways and then this individuality is crushed by the "rigorous and correct way to learn science and maths" taught in schools and universities. To me, that spark of unique thinking is the ultimate tool to learning and I work with my students so that they can see that their way of thinking can lead them to be excellent scientists, mathematicians and exam takers.

 

But arguably more important than the subject material, I work with my students so that they never take on the darker messages of academia: perfectionism at the cost of your happiness and wellbeing, never being good enough, not being smart enough, if you fail you are doomed etc.

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We work together to allow me to teach perhaps the most important lesson - learn something through fun and adventure and never simply because someone else told you to. Don't try to fit in the box - it isn't a nice place to be anyway ;)

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