Ann Lin

Name:        Ann Lin

Program:  Accounting

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I’ve always enjoyed helping classmates in class. Being able to explain something until their light bulbs switch on is satisfying.

How has tutoring helped you?

I am now a lot more patient than I used to be and I’ve managed to meet different people from different business programs.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Don’t compare yourself to others! You are who you are.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

An entry-level job at Canada Revenue Agency would be awesome!

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

Given BCIT’s course load, I would probably stay in bed and do nothing.

Ann works in the Learning Commons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To book an appointment check online.

Alison Smith

Name:        Alison Smith

Program:  Nuclear Medicine

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I tutored students during my university education and found it most rewarding.  Having attended tutoring last year, I wanted to help my fellow students and provide them guidance about my experiences in the program.

How has tutoring helped you?

Tutoring has helped me become better at problem solving.  I have also come to better appreciate the different ways we learn. Not all students learn the same way, so I have to think of different angles to approach each problem. This ensures I am changing the student’s perspective on the problem and finding a new method that they understand.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Take time to reward yourself (exercising, watching a movie or getting some fresh air) after finishing assignments. It is a great way not only to relieve stress but also maintain a high level of concentration on each topic.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

My dream job would be to working as a full-time Nuclear Medicine technologist, hopefully with all of my classmates. I have made such great friends and will miss being around them everyday after we graduate.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

I enjoy baking. Whenever I have free time I like to try making extravagant desserts. My newest challenge is to try to make a croquembouche.

We hope Alison and her friends find their dream job as Nuclear Medicine technologists and are able to celebrate with a homemade croquembouche!

Jonathan Bond

Name:        Jonathan Bond (yes, really, my parents didn’t name me James)

Program:  Technical writing

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I love to talk about writing with other people and believe that being able to write competently will help you, no matter who you are.

How has tutoring helped you?

Tutoring helped to remind me that while I enjoy sitting down and knocking out four or five pages, writing can be a special kind of hell for others. But it has to be done and doesn’t have to be agony.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

No one will follow this advice, even if it will make their life immensely easier: as soon as you get an assignment…..START! Starting is the hardest part but you know what’s harder? Rebounding from procrastination. Finish 3-4 days early and reread your work.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

A job where I make the rules and then I can have a coffee mug at the office that says “The buck stops here” or something equally trite.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

I would write exactly what I wanted, eat tacos, go for dinner with friends and somehow fit in a surprise trip to San Francisco with someone who I thought was super nifty.

Thank you Jonathan! We hope you get your ideal free day soon!

Gurinder Dhillon

Name:       Gurinderpal Singh Dhillon

Program:  Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET), Power Option – Level 4

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I like to teach other students. I want to know how other people think and how they tackle any problem.

How has tutoring helped you?

It’s a good way to review all the stuff I learned in previous semesters.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

I know a lot of BCIT students just study all day and night and don’t pay much attention to their health. My advice to them would be don’t stress out too much. Go to the gym or do other physical activity and stay healthy because your health is the most important. You can be a lot more productive if you stay healthy.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

I would like to work as an Electrical Technologist/Designer/Field Service Representative.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

I would workout, hang out with friends.

We wish you all the best Gurinderpal and hope you find that dream job!

Andrea Hoegler

Name:       Andrea Hoegler

Program:  Sustainable Resource Management

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I have always had an interest in teaching. Prior to coming to BCIT, I worked as an ESL teaching assistant in a middle school and also tutored adults who had not completed high school. Having not yet worked with people in my own age group or at the post-secondary level, I saw peer tutoring as a new challenge and exciting opportunity.

How has tutoring helped you?

Tutoring has definitely made me realize that all students have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning, and it has even helped me to recognize my own. As both a student and tutor at BCIT, I have also really learned to appreciate working with and helping others to achieve common goals.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Manage your time well, and get some rest!

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

I’m still figuring out what my dream job is, but I’m hoping to work in the field of urban forestry and/or environmental education and outreach.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

Hiking, followed by eating lots of sushi!

Andrea can definitely help you develop your writing skills. To book an appointment, visit the Writing Centre online.

Charles Gallagher

Name:       Charles Gallagher

Program:  Mechanical Engineering Degree

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I was attracted to becoming a peer tutor to improve my leadership skills while helping others to succeed.

How has tutoring helped you?

Tutoring has helped me to work with and understand a variety of people coming from different directions and backgrounds.  My learning and teaching skills have improved and tutoring sessions act as a great way to review previous course material.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Read your textbooks on the bus; you paid for them!

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

My dream job after leaving BCIT would be a junior engineering position with a Vancouver-based start-up company in the clean energy transportation sector.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

If I had a free day, I would go for a nice long day hike.

Charles is a welcome addition to the Learning Commons and we wish him all the best!

Levi DeVries

Name:        Levi DeVries

Program:  Mechanical Engineering

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I enjoy teaching things to people. I find it very satisfying to be able to explain a difficult concept in such a way that someone who was having trouble is now able to understand it.

How has tutoring helped you?

Tutoring others has helped reinforce concepts that I had learned earlier on in my degree but I had begun to forget.  Additionally, the act of teaching a concept to someone else helps me increase my own level of understanding in that subject.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Be very intentional about writing neatly and clearly organizing your work (especially when you are learning something new!).

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

I would like to design heavy machinery and mobile equipment.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

Fishing.

If you’re looking for help in Mechanical Engineering, stop by the Learning Commons and say hello to Levi!