Chemistry with Zac H.

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas in 2019 with a BS in biology and a BA in psychology. During my undergraduate studies, I spent 3 years tutoring chemistry, biology, psychology, and Spanish, and my final year, I was a lead tutor responsible for training and guiding a team of chemistry tutors at the University. Additionally, I became a published researcher by generating organic molecules for targeting cancer therapy. These experiences laid the foundation of how I approach chemistry as more than memorizing reactions and molecules. Both as a tutor and a researcher, I developed a problem-solving mindset applicable to all chemistry material. Ultimately, I learned how to approach a problem as if I were the one posing the question: to think critically about the material so that I can apply it as necessary rather than simply regurgitating my notes verbatim. I learned how to organize chemical problems in my mind so they were more easily digested, filtering out superfluous and distracting information. As a tutor in particular, I refined my ability to communicate this passion to others and to think flexibility about the material, applying it to any logical problem, even in other sciences. My primary focus as a tutor is instilling this approach in my students. After I graduated, I moved to Mozambique to become a high school chemistry teacher to over 350 students through the Peace Corps. Through this experience, I developed lesson plans and taught advanced chemical concepts in Portuguese using the limited resources available to me and my students. This experience further challenged me to think creatively about how I can effectively communicate my passion for chemistry to others, regardless of language and resource limitations. As a chemistry educator who is pursuing a career in medicine, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and skills with others. Given my experiences, I am most qualified to teach those at the high school and undergraduate level, though my approach to chemistry does not need to be limited by age or grade! Additionally, for pre-med students who are particularly interested in MCAT studying, I scored over the 94th percentile in all the science sections of the test, and I would be happy to help practice for these as well!