Thank You For Being Such A Vital Part Of Our Team, Sharon. We Look Forward To Sharing More About You So Others Can Get To Know You Better!
Sharon, Tell us a bit about your backstory and what lead you down your current life path.
I am a lifelong resident of Chicago. After graduating high school, I attended the University of Iowa, obtaining a BSE degree in Biomedical Engineering. After college, I worked for the government and in the insurance industry. For fifteen years, I homeschooled my two sons. It was during my time as a homeschool teacher, that I discovered my love for teaching. As a result of my children’s academic success, friends began asking me to tutor their children. This eventually led to me becoming a professional tutor.
What is one thing you are most proud of achieving in your life?
I am most proud of successfully homeschooling my two sons from kindergarten through high school. During my time homeschooling, my sons and I shared many wonderful experiences. My sons were able to travel, explore music, try different sports, and explore nature. We spent many days going to plays, zoos and museums. I feel as though I also received a great education because of homeschooling.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I am grateful for the support of my husband Kevin. My husband has enabled me to successfully achieve my goals. He has truly enabled me to get to where I am today. Kevin is one of the kindest and most helpful persons I have ever known. He is a constantly source of support, encouragement, and advice in my life.
Sharon, What do you enjoy most about teaching/tutoring?
I love learning. What I enjoy most about teaching and tutoring is helping students learn the subjects they are studying. As a recent student, I can appreciate how difficult learning new information can be. Tutoring gives me a great sense of satisfaction when my students began to understand the material. I love to see my students’ confidence grow as they begin to master their subjects. I enjoy partnering with the students and their families to help them as they try to achieve their academic goals. Tutoring allows me to help students in a tangible way.
What do you like to do in your free time when you are not tutoring?
In my free time, I like to do many things. First, I love spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy traveling, reading, and baking. Regarding reading, I love listening to audio books. I read and listen to about fifty books every year. Some of my favorite books are suspense novels and books in a series. In the future I hope to travel to Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Tell about an amazing trip you took. Where did you go and what did you enjoy most?
When my husband was working for MGM Studios in California, he was assigned to project that required him to be in London, England for three weeks. Since we were homeschooling, our entire family was able to travel to England. While we were in London, my sons and I visited the British Museum and other famous landmarks. One weekend our family took a day trip to Paris, France. We were able to see Norte Dame, the Louvre Museum, and the Arch of the Triumph. The biggest highlight was standing on the Eiffel Tower. It was an amazing trip.
Is there something exciting you are working on now? What is it and why did you choose to start it?
I am currently studying to take the GMAT exam for graduate school. Obtaining a graduate degree has been one of my goals for a long time. After I finished homeschooling my two sons, I attended college and obtained my second college degree. I found that I really enjoyed attending college. I loved learning new subjects and working with the other students. I believe obtaining a graduate degree will allow me to grow as a person and a professional tutor.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? What is it and why did it resonate with you?
The Bible has made the most significant impact on my life. As a result of reading and studying it, I know God’s great love and purpose for me and others. The Bible answers the big questions everyone has: How did we get here? Why are we here? What happens to us after death? If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would be the Bible. Reading and studying the Bible has truly being life changing.
The road to success is difficult and requires tremendous dedication. What advice would you give to a young person who aspires to follow in your footsteps and emulate your success?
Achieving success is difficult. The advice I give young people is to never underestimate the value of just trying. A lot of my sons’ successes have come from trying. We have submitted applications for programs that we did not know had thousands of applicants. My sons auditioned for and were accepted into music programs that we later found out were difficult to be accepted into. A person will never know what they might have achieved if they never try.
As our Tutor Spotlight this week, you are a tremendous source of wisdom! Please share your favorite Life Lesson quote. How is it relevant to your life?
One of my life’s mottos is: “Let them tell you no.” I have seen too many people never achieve their goals, because they either gave up or were afraid to try. I would rather fail at trying to do something than let fear and doubt stop me from even trying. I am always advising my sons and myself to go after some dream or goal. It is one thing not to get selected after you applied or auditioned for a coveted position, but it is worse to not achieve a goal for fear or failure to even try. If you do not get the position, let it be because they told you no and not because you did not try.
