PrepNow Tutor - Fernando L.
Fernando specializes in high school biology and chemistry, but also has experience tutoring algebra, reading comprehension, grammar, and SAT/ACT prep. Fernando earned a BS in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with a certification in education studies from Yale University; since graduating in May 2025, he has been a substitute and assistant teaching 9th-grade biology and 10th-grade chemistry in Chicago charter schools. He plans to attend dental school in 2028.
He began tutoring and mentoring middle and high schoolers once a week during his freshman year of college through an extracurricular organization called Yeti Tutoring. “My proudest moment as a mentor was seeing one of my mentees apply for the same position that had allowed me to mentor them and having them turn to me for advice on their application. It’s always an amazing experience seeing people pay it forward!”
In 2023-2024, he served as an Academic Peer Strategies Mentor at Yale’s Center for Teaching & Learning, where he supported undergraduate students in study strategies and test prep. The following year, he worked with the Yale Prison Education Initiative, mentoring incarcerated students pursuing associate’s degrees.
Fernando’s approach is tailored and encouraging. “Tutoring is also a two-way street; you’ll be learning the content, and I’ll be learning how to better tailor my instruction to support you!” he shares. He aims to create a learning environment where students can use their strengths to boost weaknesses and learn from missteps and challenges. “My job is to help you first learn and then master material, which means you’ll have to make mistakes along the way. It’s important to me that I create a space that allows you to see mistakes as an opportunity for growth, not as failures,” he adds.
He’s proud to share that he graduated from high school as a Valedictorian. As an undergraduate, he worked as a camp counselor at Camp Ksem, a national organization offering a free week-long summer camp for children impacted by a parent’s or guardian’s cancer. For three summers, he also worked within Yale’s bridge program for incoming first-years who identify as first-generation and/or low-income; he served as a counselor and then program director. His senior year, he was also a “FroCo (first-year counselor),” Yale’s version of a resident advisor. Lastly, he held roles in the chemistry department and the dean’s office.
A horror movie buff, he loves watching scary films with friends. Since graduating, he has also been catching up on reading for pleasure. “Recently, I’ve finished Wuthering Heights (in anticipation of the upcoming film adaptation), Song of Solomon, Lapvona, and I’m currently reading Dune (science fiction is my favorite genre).” He’s also a formidable trivia player. “I’m surprisingly good at animal trivia, so you'd better hope you never find yourself going head-to-head with me in that category during a game of Heads Up.”
