Houston Sasseli - English and Anthropology Major
What are your top three books or favorite book series?
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Dune by Frank Herbert, and The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
What are your future educational or career plans?
I'd love to either write, work in filmmaking, or do archaeology.
What is your favorite part about being a tutor so far?
I haven't been a tutor for long, but I love helping those who are just one step away from making something great. Everyone is able to write something amazing as long as they have guidance!
If you were a book title, what would that book title be?
The Boy in the Seahawks Jersey
What piece of advice would you give to new students?
Patience is a virtue to success, so always be diligent and devoted with your time.
Luis Barba - English Major
What are your top three books or favorite book series?
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
What are your future educational or career plans?
I plan on obtaining my associates for transfer degree in English and pursue a career in teaching at an elementary level, because I value education and believe it is especially important at a young age.
What is your favorite part about being a tutor so far?
My favorite part of being a tutor so far is how helpful everyone is. I often feel lost and overwhelmed but I know I can depend on the staff to help me figure things out.
If you were a book title, what would that book title be?
If I were a book title it would probably be something along the lines of Above the Clouds, because it reminds me of how I always go above and beyond to achieve my dreams. It’s also an implication of how tall I am haha.
What piece of advice would you give to new students?
One piece of advice that I would give to new students is to not be afraid to reach out when you need it. When I first started off in college I was terrified and lost, and I was too afraid to ask for help. I overcame this fear and it’s the best thing I could have done! Things become much easier when you let others help you in your path to success!
Kaitlin Garcia - Elementary Teacher Education and Liberal Studies Major
What are your top three books or favorite book series?
My top favorite books are The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy by Jean Kennedy Smith, and Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. I really like to read poetry books or books that are non-fiction.
What are your future educational or career plans?
My education plan is to make B's or higher in all classes I take while attending Reedley College, making sure I meet the requirements for double majoring and eventually transferring to Fresno State. After I finish college at Fresno State I am hoping to have saved up enough money to move to Washington State to become an elementary teacher there. I have always loved Washington and I think that is where I would like to settle down.
What is your favorite part about being a tutor so far?
I would say that my favorite part so far about being a tutor is the environment. I think that the Reading and Writing Center has been so welcoming and understanding to me and it’s been greatly appreciated. It feels so easy to have friends and get along with so many new people.
If you were a book title, what would that book title be?
If I had a book title I think that I would want to be known as someone/something that helped represent mental health. I would want the book to be sharing experiences/ways to cope/manage mental health. My book title would probably be Turning Trauma to Triumph.
What piece of advice would you give to new students?
My advice to new students would be to buy a planner. Last semester was my first semester and it was all online, it was really overwhelming to try and keep track of all my zoom meetings, due dates, and big tests and After buying a physical planner and dedicating just a few minutes to it at the end of each day to write down upcoming due dates it was a lot easier to keep organized and on schedule.
Ulysses Ochoa - English Literature Major
What are your top three books or favorite book series?
Phantoms, Dragon Tears, & Shattered by Dean Koontz
What are your future educational or career plans?
My future educational/career plan is to get my bachelor’s so I can pursue a career in librarianship.
What is your favorite part about being a tutor so far?
My favorite part about being a tutor so far is just learning the process; studying the Bedford Guide makes me excited to help my fellow students improve their writing skills with the knowledge I'm learning.
If you were a book title, what would that book title be?
I think if I were a book title, I would be called Everything but the Kitchen Sink because a lot of the shows and especially music I enjoy cover vastly different genres.
What piece of advice would you give to new students?
My piece of advice to new students is to make sure they make a Student Education Plan ASAP, so they have a clear roadmap of their time at Reedley College.
Yuleni Valdarinos - Psychology Major
What are your top three books or favorite book series?
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The Magician’s Nephew is my favorite.
What are your future educational or career plans?
I am working on my Associate's Degree for Transfer in Psychology and plan to transfer to Fresno State to work on my Bachelors in Sociology there. I want to work in Social Services as a social worker or a counselor one day.
What is your favorite part about being a tutor so far?
My favorite part of being a tutor so far is probably just the environment. It's amazing to see everyone so enthusiastic about learning and becoming a better writer.
If you were a book title, what would that book title be?
If I were a book title, it would probably be somewhere along the lines of like "from rags to riches" or something like that. Not in the sense of fame and fortune, but more like knowledge and experiences. I am a returning student so to look back and see where I was a few years ago as a college "drop out" to now, being not only enrolled in a full-time semester but also having the opportunity to share my knowledge as a tutor, it's the wealthiest I have ever felt knowledge-wise.
What piece of advice would you give to new students?
The advice that I would give new students is that everyone's educational journey is different, so don't be afraid to go at your own pace and just try to make the best of it.
Tammy Galan - English Major
What are your top three books or favorite book series?
I really enjoyed the Arc of the Scythe series by Neal Shusterman. I highly recommend reading it if you like dystopian fantasy-like genres.
What are your future educational or career plans?
I plan to transfer to Fresno State and pursue a career in education. I want to become an English teacher or an elementary school teacher.
What is your favorite part about being a tutor so far?
So far, I really like interacting with the students and forming friendships with the other tutors.
If you were a book title, what would that book title be?
The Uninteresting Life of Tammy; I feel like no one would read my story haha.
What piece of advice would you give to new students?
Get organized! Once you have your time scheduled out, everything becomes easier. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out, we have all been in the same boat and we want to help.