PrepNow Tutor - Jamel S.
A lifelong learner, Jamel holds a BS in biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MS in biophysics from the University of Virginia; he is currently pursuing a PhD in biophysics from the University of Virginia. “I find learning to be one of life's privileges,” Jamel says. “I love seeking knowledge and I happen to enjoy sharing just as much.” As an undergraduate, he earned the William Arnold Award as the highest-achieving minority student in biochemistry. In addition to tutoring, Jamel performs computational biology studies, focusing on COVID spike protein analysis.
Jamel started tutoring in seventh grade after a family friend asked him to tutor their daughter in math. “There's nothing like the joy in a student's face when you've transformed how they thought about a subject,” Jamel says. Jamel later served as a fourth and fifth-grade teaching assistant in math and has many years of experience tutoring algebra, pre-algebra, biology, and chemistry. For several years, Jamel was also involved with a high school science outreach program in biotechnology. Jamel wants to contribute to the cultivation of “an informed society” because it equates to a “well-functioning society.”
When asked about his teaching approach, Jamel emphasizes the importance of developing student familiarization and comfort with the problem-solving process. “I believe that growing your deductive reasoning and confidence in your abilities beyond rote memorization is the cornerstone of succeeding in every academic subject,” Jamel says. When tutoring, he gently guides his students to their own answers, working them through analogies or shorthands that help them remember key concepts that can be built upon later.
In high school, Jamel played tennis and the tenor saxophone for the marching band. These days, Jamel enjoys coding, photography, video games, and reality TV. “I also love hosting game nights and other fun activities with friends,” he shares. A fun fact about Jamel is that Tyra Banks is his second cousin.
