Tell us a little about yourself… 

My name is Andrew Simpson. I’m a Junior Biology major and Spanish certificate, and I love watching and playing soccer, basketball, football, and martial arts.  I love the energy and comradery of sports, and I got to experience the passion for the World Cup when I studied abroad in the beautiful Barranquilla, Colombia!  A final fun fact about me is that I also play clarinet (like Squidward).

 Tell us about how you are involved on campus. 

 I’ve been blessed to be a part of many great organizations on campus, and they have really helped me feel at home on campus.  These include UMBC Jujitsu, the Down and Dirty Dawg Band, the Shriver Center (for off-campus volunteering), and Cru Christian Ministries.

 I think what I’ve become kind of famous for on campus is for being an SI PASS leader of CHEM 101.  I have met a lot of people through the SI PASS sessions (especially freshmen), and I have really enjoyed doing what I can to help many students navigate taking chemistry. 

 How and why did you get involved in being an SI PASS leader? 

 First semester I took biology and chemistry intro courses, and found out very quickly that those classes are really hard!  They are not difficult because they are unfair or try to trick you, but they require a different type of thinking than what is expected in high school.  This was a hard adjustment for me and many students, but by utilizing various resources on campus I found methods that worked for me to succeed in these classes.  I wanted to pass these strategies on to my fellow students, and SI PASS seemed like a good means to accomplish that.

 What is your favorite thing about being a SI PASS leader? 

 There is a lot to love about the SI PASS program here at UMBC.  The community of fellow leaders and administration is remarkably supportive, and I was encouraged to be creative and incorporate my personality into my sessions.  Balancing the freedom to use jokes and movie references with the challenge of preparing the students for chemistry exams was a creative challenge that I grew to love.

 However, my favorite aspect of SI PASS is undoubtedly seeing students succeed.  That sounds really cliché, and I hate clichés, but during my first semester of doing SI PASS a student ran up to me and hugged me and told me that I was the reason that he passed his exam.  Obviously, I was not the one taking the exam and the credit goes to the student, but I played some role in helping a student pursue his dream of being an engineer.  I will never forget this moment, and it is an incredible joy to watch students that have gone to my sessions succeed in their college career.

 Why should students utilize the SI PASS sessions? 

 SI PASS utilizes research from across the United States and all over the world to craft the best group-oriented sessions that focus on exam prep and critical thinking.  It has been a fantastic resource for many successful students, and is completely free.  No appointments are necessary either, just show up to the times and locations posted on Blackboard.

 What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a SI PASS session? 

 Be open-minded about working with others.  It is easy to work alone or with only people you know, but the students that collaborate more actively have made new friends and ways of seeing and explaining the material.  Seeing the concepts from different perspectives is key for critical thinking and analysis, which are two crucial skills for exams.

Tell us a little about yourself… 

 I'm a Junior Computer Engineering Major, Creative Writing Minor. I like listening to podcasts, doing community theater, and writing.

Tell us about how you are involved on campus. 

On campus, I do a lot of playwriting/acting/directing for theaterCOM club, and I'm a TA for CMPE 212. 

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor? 

A friend of mine convinced me to become a tutor because I'm very good at explaining concepts, and he thought I should be paid for helping him and other students with their classes.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor? 

I tutor for challenging math and tech-based courses, so my favorite thing is seeing when a subject finally clicks for the person I'm tutoring and they really understand it. 

Why should students utilize the tutoring? 

I always tell people to use the LRC because it's a totally free resource that gives students and chance for more focused help. I think anyone can pass all their classes, but it's easy to get left behind, especially when the class is large or the professor isn't good at communicating. If you wait to get help until you're failing, it'll be hard to pull up your grade, but if you get help early and often you'll be able to keep up easily.

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

Always come to a tutoring knowing what topics you want to go over, and coming with specific questions or with practice problems (not homework problems) to work on is always helpful. 

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center? 

I have walk-in hours Mon 12-1, Tues 1-2, and Wed 11-12 and 3-4 in either Sherman 335 or Sherman 340.  You can download the StudyTree app on your phone to book an appointment.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Haythem Abdelkhalek and I am from Tunisia. I am a transfer student from the University of Rouen of Sciences (France) and now I am a senior Information Systems major and a swimmer on the UMBC Swimming & Diving team. 

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

As a swimmer on the UMBC Swimming & Diving Team since 2016 I get the opportunity to compete for my university and represent its students and values. I tutor mostly French and Arabic at the Learning Resources Center but I also tutor Computer Science, Information Systems, and Math when needed. I lifeguard at the RAC and I give swim lessons to people of all ages and all levels. 

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

When I transferred here, in my first course: French 339, my professor advised me to join the Learning Resources Center as a French tutor. I thought this was a great opportunity for me to get more involved on campus, meet new people, and keep practicing my language skills.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

The best reward I could ever get as a tutor is receiving emails from students I tutored earlier in the semester telling me that they successfully passed the course they were failing or for getting that A they were about to miss.

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

Tutoring is such a great resource that help students improve their grades, pass courses, or simply improve their speaking skills when learning new languages. 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

The best way to prepare for a tutoring session is to bring lots of questions and exercises or quizzes that the student is having trouble with. Making sure that the student understands what they got wrong in previous assignments is the most efficient way to build a solid base and start improving.

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

My schedule is very flexible and I can adapt to students needs easily. You can find me most of the time at Sherman Hall 332 and just send and email to the ASC and we will get you started with your first step to success ASAP!