Astrophysics graduate with 10 years of tutoring experience, passionate about teaching and helping students excel in their studies.

Find out more about Nadia

• 1. When did you develop an interest in your subject and in private tutoring?

  I developed a passion for maths and science when I was around 10 years old. Numbers have always fascinated me-they just made sense. I became interested in private tutoring at 16, when I started helping my classmates with maths, physics, and chemistry. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to advertise my services on our estate group, and I got my first client in June of Grade 10.

• 2. Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like, and what you would like to discuss with your students

  I tutor high school maths, physics, and chemistry, as well as university-level physics, statistics, calculus, and algebra for first- and second-year students. I enjoy all the topics I teach, but a few stand out as favourites:
  
  • Integration - it's one of the most fascinating parts of maths. I love how it brings together technique and problem-solving.
  • Photoelectric effect - it's such a key concept in understanding the dual nature of light.
  • Work, energy, and power
  • Sequences and series
  • Probability
  • Organic chemistry

• 3. Did you have any role models? Perhaps a teacher that inspired you?

  Yes, my Grade 12 maths teacher had a big influence on me. Whenever I felt stuck, she'd remind me that I already had the tools to solve the problem-I just needed to look a bit deeper. She encouraged me to trust myself, and more often than not, after thinking it through, I'd get to the answer. That approach has really shaped how I teach my own students today.

• 4. What do you think are the qualities required to be a good teacher?

  Patience is essential. As teachers, we have to remember that something which feels obvious to us may not be obvious to someone else. Every student learns at their own pace and in their own way. Dedication, good time management, clear communication, and empathy are also really important. I think students can tell when a teacher genuinely cares-and that makes a huge difference.

• 5. Could you share an anecdote related to your subject or your student days?

  When I was 14, I entered a school Pi competition where the goal was to memorise as many digits of Pi as possible. I managed to memorise over 300 digits and won the competition! That was when I knew that I was destined for greatness (haha)!

• 6. Did you face any difficulties at school or university?

  Yes, I did. In high school, I was bullied and found it hard to make real friendships. Things got better after I changed schools in Grade 11, although the transition wasn't easy. At university, I found the workload quite tough. It never really got lighter, but I did get better at managing it. Some courses, like quantum mechanics, cosmology, and Lagrangian mechanics, were especially challenging-but I kept at it because I knew that I would understand it if continued putting in effort.

• 7. Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general, an element of this particular subject, or something completely different?

  Teaching is definitely my biggest passion. I really enjoy helping students and watching them grow more confident in their abilities. I'm currently pursuing my postgraduate in astrophysics, and one of my goals is to lecture at a university level. Another dream of mine is to open a school one day that specialises in maths and science.

• 8. What makes you a Superprof?

  I'm a Superprof because I truly care about what I do. I'm passionate about my subjects, and I put a lot of thought and effort into making sure my students feel supported and encouraged. For me, teaching isn't just a job-it's a calling. Every lesson is a chance to uplift, inspire, and make a difference in someone's life, and that's what drives me every single day.