Shona

I have a vast knowledge of all branches of chemistry and have a passion and drive to see others succeed. I have a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Aberdeen and I tutor grades 9-College.

My tutoring style:

My passion is to see the understanding become evident in a student. I encourage students to ask many questions and aim to explain chemistry in a way which is relevant and fits the learning style of each individual student. I like to ensure understanding of the basics in order to build on a solid foundation.

Success story:

I often hear students say they don’t like chemistry or it’s too difficult. I challenge myself to turn that mindset around and instill a love for chemistry in every student I connect with. A few years ago, I tutored a student who was starting a chemistry course as a pre requisite for nursing. She had left this course until last, knowing that chemistry was a difficult subject for her. We worked together and I could see the change in mindset as the course progressed. That student passed the course with an A, and is now a chemistry major.

Another notable story is that of a retired student who had worked in a grocery store for 50 years and started a chemistry degree to mark his 70th birthday. I spent a lot of time with this student, building basic understanding and helping him to update his knowledge in order to build on these basics to achieve his degree at the age of 74.