ESL teacher with 10+ years experience teaching writing, grammar, essays and clear thinking skills to children, teens and adults

When my mom told me she had signed me up for English and writing lessons, she was met with a groan and a desperate plea for me to stay home. Having quit many extracurriculars in the past, including the math lessons at the same school, I was convinced this would just be another chore I would eventually walk away from. Little did I know, walking into Chris’ classroom would become one of the most impactful and enjoyable experiences in my life.

Chris wasn’t just a tutor; he was a mentor and a friend. He didn’t just teach me how to use em dashes — which I'm still working on! — he helped me discover who I am. One of my fondest memories was when he encouraged my passion for consciousness, engaging in conversations about it, letting me explore and use it as a central theme for my essays. Chris was there for much more than just schoolwork or proofreading; he was someone I could joke with or talk about anything, from deep religious questions to complex topics.

Chris has that rare, incredible gift of making a student feel genuinely seen and heard. What I expected to be a weekly burden quickly became a highlight of my week. Even now, long after our lessons have ended, we still keep in touch. I find myself mentioning him to my new friends and proudly listing him as my reference for applications. I went from begging my mom to let me stay at home to begging her for just a few more classes. I’m so grateful I got to have a role model like Chris; I wouldn’t be who I am today without his guidance.