I am a Mathematics Graduate and a part qualified Actuary.
DBS Certified
Mathematics BSc (Hons)
University of Nottingham, Grade 2:1
Institute of Actuaries
CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT8 and CT9
STEP I
Mathematics (Grade 2)
A-Levels
Mathematics (A), Chemistry (A), Physics (A), AS Further Mathematics (A), AS Economics (A)
GCSEs
6 at Grade A*
Mathematics, Double Science, French, Geography, Religious Education
3 at Grade A
English Literature, English Language, Business Studies & Graphics
1 at Grade B
Art
Mathematics Tutor
Maths is Brils, London (Jan 2016 - Present)
Keystone Tutors, London (Jan 2016 - Present)
Maths is Brils, Dubai (Apr 2013 - Dec 2015)
Holland Park, Dubai (Aug 2013 – Dec 2014)
Carfax, Dubai - (Aug 2013 – Dec 2014)
The Tutoring Centre, Dubai (Apr 2013 – Aug 2013)
Health Actuarial Contractor
Milliman, Dubai (Apr 2013 – Jul 2013)
Regional Financial Planning Analyst
AIG, Dubai (Jan 2013 – Mar 2013)
Life Actuarial Contractor
Munich Re, London (May 2011 – Apr 2012)
Actuarial Trainee
ALICO (AIG Life), Croydon (Apr 2007 – Apr 2011)
Insurance Analyst
RBS Insurance, Bromley, Kent (Oct 2006 – Apr 2007)
Camp Counsellor
Camp America, Wisconsin, US (Summer 2004)
As "geeky" as it sounds, I cannot deny it: Mathematics has always been a passion of mine!
During my early years at school I recognised that I had a talent for Mathematics, I enjoyed it and had an urge to excel at it. Year after year I would win the Award at school for Best Mathematics Student. You could imagine how thrilled I was when I received an offer from the University of Cambridge to read Mathematics. However Further Mathematics and STEP was a requirement. Unfortunately at the time my school did not offer Further Mathematics or STEP classes to me and coming from an underprivileged background we were unable to afford a Tutor.
This left me with one choice: I was forced to teach myself. However using the word "forced" is unfair, as I was thrilled by the opportunity to teach myself and although tough, it was a joy to learn! Most importantly it helped me to understand how to analyse a syllabus and structure my revision accordingly and efficiently. It was not a matter of blindly memorising random formulae and methods but to also understand how they were derived and why.
Unfortunately, although getting outstanding results in my Further Mathematics A-levels (achieving 100/100 in several papers), I didn't meet the Grade 1 STEP requirement by Cambridge. I instead attended my second choice University, the University of Nottingham. But as they say 'Every cloud has a silver lining' and it was at Nottingham where I met my best friend, who eventually went on to become my husband! And where did I meet him? In a Mathematics lecture of course!
After graduating from University I went into the Actuarial profession, taking on Actuarial exams that took my love for Mathematics to new heights! I was in this field from 2006 to 2012 working for RBS Insurance, AIG Life and Munich Re. I moved to Dubai in the summer of 2012 where I continued to work at AIG and also at an American actuarial consultancy, Milliman. I was dealing with statistical models, complex calculations, statistical coding and it was all fun for a while!
After some time I was left feeling unsatisfied. It prompted me to remember the question I was asked when I was 16 years old: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" A Maths Tutor? No, of course not. What 16-year old wants to be a Maths tutor? I wanted to be a Children's TV Presenter! Not for the fame but rather because they would entertain children with stories, art, science, etc. turning “boring” things into something that is fun. Their passion was then transferred to the little faces via the TV!
And so it was in April 2013, whilst working as an Actuary, that I began my tutoring career in Dubai freelancing for three top tutoring companies. I quickly realised how much I enjoyed teaching Mathematics, and watching the faces of students change as they realise that Mathematics is not something they need to fear but something they can love!
By September 2013, I left the Actuarial field to work as a full time tutor. Gone were the days that I would force myself out of bed to go to an office and sit in front of spreadsheets all day. Now I hop, skip and jump out of bed so that I can see the smile on a student’s face as they realise they CAN tackle the question, they CAN get this right, they CAN achieve the grade that they want and eventually... they CAN do this all by themselves!
After 2 years of Tutoring in Dubai, my husband and I moved back to London to set up Maths is Brils here. I believe that Tutoring is my calling and in the next few years I hope to establish myself as one of the most reputable Mathematics tutors in London.
As anyone would, I do get a great sense of achievement and joy when parents or students call to tell me their latest exam results and the A's or A*'s they received. But my favourite moments are when I turn up to students’ homes and two siblings are fighting over which one gets to have their Maths lesson first. Or when a young student, who would cry and hide before their first few Maths lessons, is now confidently standing by the door long before I have even knocked. Or when a student who can see that there is only 5 minutes left in the lesson asks for an extra 15 or 30 minutes because it went by too fast as they were "having too much fun".
This is what I am doing this for! And this is what I want to give to all my future students! Maths is Brils!!