Upswing Tutor Week Celebration October 12–16! 🎉
Derrick Black, Upswing Tutor Week Honoree
Upswing is celebrating Tutor Week October 12th–16th! To celebrate, we asked students to nominate the Upswing tutor who has impacted them the most.
Derrick Black was nominated as one of our honorees! 🏆
With over 20 years of math tutoring experience and a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, it’s not surprising that Derrick makes a real impact on the students he works with. Since joining the Upswing team in 2017, Derrick has tutored nearly 1,500 sessions, with an overall rating of 4.73/5. His students describe him as “Amazing”, “Diligent”, and, “Kind. My favorite tutor.”
Beyond his direct work with students, Derrick is invested in our Upswing mission and it shows in his contributions. He is always responsive, helpful, honest, and willing to share creative ideas and suggestions. We’re sincerely appreciative that Derrick chooses to make a difference with us.
We asked Derrick to share his perspective on tutoring with Upswing. Below is what he shared.
Q: Why do you choose to tutor with Upswing?
A: Even as a child, I have always known that mathematics would be a big part of my life. I tried tutoring for the first time in August 2000, and have been doing it ever since. I became aware of Upswing in 2016 and immediately decided it would be a good fit for me to be able to work from home and help more students. I like the flexibility I have with this position, and I enjoy serving the steady stream of students who need help.
Q: What’s your favorite aspect of tutoring?
I really like figuring out new ways of breaking down and simplifying complex concepts. For example, it really helps algebra students when I explain how to simplify square roots by comparing the process to getting married. For statistics students, I explain hypothesis testing by using the analogy of a courtroom trial. When explaining how to use the p-value of a hypothesis test to reach a conclusion, I give them my saying, “If the p-value is less, reject that mess!” They laugh, especially when I remind them to “be sure to say it with attitude” when they use it later to help them remember. So, I like being creative and figuring out new ways to explain that are both informative and entertaining.
Q: Tell us why you think education/access to academic support is so important.
Access to academic support has always been important, but this year more than ever, students and instructors alike are starting to rely on it more. I remember those days of working on an assignment at home and searching online for documentation that could be of some assistance. I often thought that if I could just speak to someone with some knowledge of the subject matter, then I would be able to understand, find the correct answers, and move on much faster. I empathize with my students and I want them to always have access to academic support, whether night, day, weekday, or weekend, so I try to be available to them as much as possible. Access to academic support can greatly relieve students’ stress levels, enhance their abilities to apply the concepts they’re learning, and increase the quality of their final submissions.
Q: What has been one of your favorite “break through moments” while tutoring?
My favorite break through moments actually aren’t “moments” at all… they’re those extended time periods where I work with a student and watch them grow and blossom in the subject of mathematics. A few of my students began meeting with me for College Algebra, and continued with me on into Statistics. Then, there are others who began with me with Precalculus, and continued with me on into Calculus II. It is so heartwarming to see their progression. I have been blessed to be able to help:
- Business majors understand how calculus concepts intertwine with economics (supply, demand, equilibrium, revenue, cost, profit, marginalization, optimization, etc.);
- Nursing majors understand and pass that dreaded statistics requirement for their program and even be able to use statistical methods in medical research to find new effective methods of treatment;
- Mathematics majors tap into the next level of critical thinking, and add more techniques into that “math bag of tricks”;
and so much more. My favorite “break through moments” often involve changing the trajectory of so many young lives for the better. A long time ago, I wrote all of my life goals down, I still keep them near me today. Here are the last three of those life goals.
I want to help as many people as possible realize the infinite, unlimited potential they have and how to tap into it for their own prosperity.
I want to help those same people understand the importance of hard work in order to achieve major goals in life.
I want to leave a lasting legacy — a major impact — that will continue long after my death.
I believe that I am currently meeting these goals with the work that I am blessed to be able to do with Upswing.
Coaches who truly care make life changing differences. 🌟 We at Upswing hope that Derrick’s responses inspire you as they have inspired us!
