Student Stories
Chris - College STEM
5 years • 12+ courses • A+ grades • Summa Cum Laude
Chris met with Joshua weekly from the end of high school through the completion of his undergraduate degree in Engineering at a top polytechnical institute. During this time, he received tutoring in over a dozen college-level math, physics, laboratory, and engineering courses. Chris earned A’s in his classes, frequently achieved A+ scores on challenging exams, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He secured a position at an engineering firm and is now meeting with us to prepare for the GMAT.
From Chris: “Joshua has supported me for over four years, helping me succeed in everything from college-level math to advanced engineering courses. His ability to explain concepts clearly and guide me through challenging problems made a huge difference in my college education. Beyond just being a great tutor, he became a friend. That balance of academic support and genuine connection made the experience really valuable, and I’d highly recommend working with him. The long-term support really shows how much he invests in his students’ success.”
Meera - High School
32 on ACT • AP Math and Science • College Admission
Meera began AB Calculus tutoring with Joshua in her junior year of high school. After taking the AP exam, she continued working with us to study for the ACT, leading to an impressive score improvement. In senior year, Meera returned for weekly sessions in AP Chemistry and occasional support in Physics and BC Calculus. Her strong academic record and test scores earned her attendance at an excellent college.
Courses: AB Calculus, ACT, AP Chemistry, Physics, BC Calculus
Jacob - K-12
5 years • Math • Science • Learning Strategies
Jacob’s family came to us during Covid seeking to bolster his 4th grade math education. He remained a steady student for 5 years, from elementary to high school, and tackled 9th grade with solid mathematical foundations. We communicated frequently with Jacob’s family to provide support in other academic areas such as essay writing, history tests, and science projects. We also worked with Jacob to strengthen fundamental academic skills like focus, retention, and interest in learning.
From Jacob: "The first thing I like about working with you [Joshua] is you’re sweet and kind and not pushy like most math teachers. You don’t expect too much out of me and you help me figure out what I do wrong and how to fix it. And that’s what I like about working with you."
Enoch - Middle School
Reading Comprehension • Algebra • High School Applications
Enoch joined us as a shy 8th grader interested in several topics. We began with a focus on strengthening his abilities in algebra, reading comprehension, and writing. We then used these foundational English skills to complete his high school applications. We worked together on each application from start to finish with a focus on exemplary writing and personal reflection. Enoch received admissions to several of these selective schools and will attend his parents' first choice for him. Now we have shifted our meetings back to reading comprehension with an emphasis on enjoyment!
From Enoch’s mom: “I truly appreciate the extra effort Zoe put into understanding Enoch’s interests and personality to help him find his authentic voice in his personal statement. She even researched the schools he was applying to in order to better understand the audience. Her thoughtful guidance was invaluable throughout the process.”
Amelia - Middle School
Hebrew • Bat Mitzvah Prep • High School Entrance Exam
Amelia started working with us to learn Hebrew reading and writing. While this began as a simple quest to prepare for her Bat Mitzvah Torah portion, our work broadened to incorporate conversational Hebrew and Jewish Studies based on her interests. We covered topics such as Torah stories, Jewish values, public speaking, and how to write a powerful and succinct Drash (speech). After two years working together, Amelia was able to chant her whole Torah portion, write several essays in Hebrew, and feel knowledgeable about her Jewish heritage and how she wants to participate in it.
Following her Bat Mitzvah, Amelia prepared for a new hurdle: applying to private high schools. By preparing with us, she improved her original high school entrance exam math score by over 50 percentile points, gaining her admission to an extremely selective private high school.
Rose - Middle School
Hebrew • Bat Mitzvah Prep • Private High School Applications
When we met Rose, she was just starting to prepare for her Bat Mitzvah. She decided to learn Hebrew as part of her Jewish education and began a 2-year journey that spanned Hebrew basics, conversational Hebrew, chanting prayers, and drafting her Bat Mitzvah service speech. We even touched on public speaking and incorporating both sides of an interfaith family into a Jewish religious service.
Following her Bat Mitzvah, we worked with Rose to conquer the exciting challenge of applying for private high schools. After months brainstorming, writing, and editing, Rose completed and submitted applications to a few selective schools with acceptance rates below 15%. She received admission offers everywhere she applied and will be attending the school of her dreams!
Gabriel - ACT Prep
35 ACT • +6 Composite score • 2 months
Gabriel began test prep with us midway through his junior year with a 29 Composite ACT score. Despite diligent efforts to raise his marks by self-study, the numbers weren’t moving.
Our preparations paired a deep dive into fundamental concepts like sentence anatomy and word problem translation with high-level strategies like shorthand notetaking and answer choice leverage. Focused and competitive by nature, Gabriel rapidly gained confidence by taking thorough notes, completing assignments thoughtfully, and engaging with interest during our sessions. Testing after just three weeks of meetings, his Composite score shot up to 34 and Science to 35. A second sitting the next month boosted him to a final Composite of 35, a near-perfect score that will shine on any application. With this achievement in hand, Gabriel is set to enjoy a more restful summer break!
From Gabriel: "Before meeting with Spokes on a Wheel, I had struggled with achieving my target scores on standardized tests. So I decided to meet with Joshua twice a week for the three weeks leading up to my ACT to go over some very basic things to know and get some assignments to get a feel for the ACT. After taking the ACT I got my results back and had already hit my goal for the ACT. Joshua helped me immensely and was always extremely understanding, and I will always be grateful for his precise guidance in my journey."