Michael Tatum

Where do you attend school, and what what are you studying?

I am currently attending Boston College as a junior. My majors are Economics and Philosophy. I have experience as a member of the Boston College Investment Club and am currently the Vice President of the Boston College Parliamentary Debating Union. As part of the debate team, I help lead weekly practices and train students in developing arguments and public speaking. I have also competed in several national competitions at universities such as Northeastern and Boston University. Additionally, I volunteer as a tutor for elementary school students during their after-school programs through the BC organization 4Boston.

During my time in high school, I was president of the Oakton High School Math Olympiad Club, which involved competing in national competitions and universities such as Duke and Carnegie Mellon, and leading class lectures on advanced math topics. I also wrote a research paper on pricing behavior in the pharmaceutical industry for Polygence and later presented my findings at a symposium. Additionally, I worked as a Summer Camp counselor with Headfirst in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, I served as a counselor for the Innovators program, instructing elementary school students in science experiments and engineering projects.

What have your teaching opportunities been outside of Fairfax Collegiate?

My teaching experience has mainly consisted of serving as president of the Math Olympiad, being a camp counselor for 2 summers at Headfirst, and tutoring elementary school students through 4Boston. I have also instructed members of our parliamentary debate team as the team coach during my sophomore year at Boston College. I will continue to do so in my capacity as Vice President.

What sort of experience have you had in the subject you’ll be teaching this summer?

My experience in these subject areas comes from an extensive background in Math, both in classes and extracurriculars. I have taken Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry Honors, Algebra 2 Honors, AB Calculus, and BC Calculus. I have also had considerable experience with algebra in my economics classes, including Principles of Economics, Statistics, Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory, and Econometrics. Additionally, I taught advanced mathematical topics, including combinatorics and probability theory, as President of my High School's Math Olympiad Club. Additionally, as part of my personal project to develop the website thepickandroll.com, I have employed algebraic concepts to develop advanced statistics for NBA players. These are some examples of past experiences with both pre-algebra and Algebra 1 concepts.

What excites you about teaching and working with students?

What excites me most about teaching and working with students is seeing the unique way each student approaches the lesson. Having the opportunity to hear a question that has not yet been asked of me, or to see a new method for solving a question, is what makes me most eager to teach. It is a very special feeling to know that the students will leave the classroom with more knowledge than when they came in, but the process of witnessing that change unfold is often the most rewarding part of all.

Outside of work, what are some hobbies you enjoy?

I enjoy reading very much, as well as creative writing. I am a film buff and a history buff, so watching historical films is certainly a habit of mine. I like to go on long walks and ride my bike whenever I can, and am also a big fan of basketball, both playing and watching.