Josh M. is a 2018 graduate of Pepperdine University. He studied computer science and mathematics, and now tutors for PCH Tutors while also working remotely as a part-time junior software developer. Get to know Josh and what inspires him most - both at work and outside of it!
How did you choose what to study in college?
I’m from Moorpark, California. Going into college in 2014, I really didn’t know what I was going to major in, but my father and uncle are really into the field of technology - that’s what their careers are based around. That inspired me to think, “Maybe I’ll give this a shot.” I picked computer science as a major, but the first year and a half it was really hard for me just to be successful in learning all this new content and trying to adapt to a certain way of thinking. But it paid off in the long run and I really enjoyed my time as a computer science major.
What was your favorite aspect of studying math and computer science?
I think what interested me most was application development. I had the opportunity to work on a mobile app in the summer of 2015, doing updates for a product that had already been created. I was inspired by having my work in the palm of my hand on my phone and being able to see the results and how it challenged me to think of real-world applications. I love that realm of tech. Overall, I really want to work in software development.
What are you hoping to do with your degree?
I want to continue my growth as a software developer. Software’s changing every day, there are always new technologies coming out, and being able to grow and adapt with those changes would be really exciting. I think I would like to be an Amazon web-certified engineer, working with Amazon’s web services. It makes you pretty marketable as a software developer, so that’s where I want to get to.
I also want to be traveling to different places, experiencing different parts of the country around the globe. I think in about 10 years, I’d like to be a decently traveled person.
Where do you want to travel first?
It might sound random, but I’d like to go to Chicago because one of my best friends is there. He’s always told me I’d love the food, and that’s an immediate draw for me. After that, maybe Nashville or Austin. Anywhere with good food.
Do you have any tutoring success stories?
I think what stands out to me the most is my first student ever, whom I still tutor. Because I had never been an official tutor before, I was really nervous going into the first session, thinking: “What if he doesn’t like me, will I remember all my middle school math?…” I was just really overthinking things. But I got to the house and the student’s mom was very warm and kind, and then meeting the student and just being able to connect with him and share common interests really built a foundation for a good tutor-student relationship.
What is something a tutor or mentor taught you that you’ve found to be invaluable advice?
As a TA for one professor at Pepperdine, I was able to pick up on some of her general teaching style, mostly through hearing about her experiences as a professor and by watching her interact with her students; she was a pretty good influence on the way I now interact with my students. Most of my anecdotes from her are more classroom-oriented - whereas I teach more one-on one - but the foundation is similar.
What is some advice you give to students?
The best advice I’ve given involves helping students hone their test-study habits. A lot of the students I help are in middle school, and often don’t know how much time to expect dedicating to studies or to how to study efficiently. After a study session I ask them: “Once I leave, what are you going to do to prepare for your test tomorrow?” I like to remind them of the needs they may not consider right now in the moment. Like, if you develop these study habits now, odds are they’re probably going to pay off for you once you move up to a higher level of education.
Do you have advice for other tutors?
What I’ve learned works best when tutoring new students is: don’t be nervous, just be friendly and try to connect with them. I’ve found that once students know you and trust you, it makes the experience altogether more fun for you and the student and promotes a good environment for learning.
What do you do for fun?
It’s pretty cliche, but I’m most content when I’m surrounded by my friends, hanging out with them, and dedicating free time to them. It helps me to relax, and takes my mind off a long day. I live across from a park so some days I’ll go out and shoot the basketball and lose myself there for a couple hours.
Any books or other media you’ve enjoyed recently?
Since I graduated, I now have time to read books I actually want to read, which is awesome. A month ago I started American Gods by Neil Gaiman and that has been a really good read to take my mind out of reality for a little bit.
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk podcast. It’s a balance of reality and fiction - I like the best of both worlds, I guess. He did a podcast about AI and i just remember being hooked on the show after that, and I enjoy learning and listening to the different aspects of science he covers. He did an Anthony Bourdain interview on the show as well, talking about how science influences food and culture. I like how eclectic the show is and all the topics it covers.
