This testimonial is long overdue. Remember my first email asking if you could tutor me after I did so badly for my 2nd year University of London law exams?
At the time, I was studying at an institute of higher learning in my home country and I had failed miserably in two of four modules.
I was too embarrassed to tell you my results, so I fudged and said I had failed by two marks. It wasn’t until the re-sit results came out and I passed with 77 marks for one module and 79 for the other, that I eventually ‘fessed up and showed you my original result… 12 marks out of 100!
I think you knew all along, but you didn’t let on.
I was at my absolute, rock-bottom, lowest point when one of our neighbors mentioned to my parents that you tutored their daughter in Property Law at another university and she scored an “A” for her final grade. My parents insisted that I get on your coaching and tutoring program, even though it was just 19 days to the first of my two re-sit exams.
After that, I never went back to the local institution. Instead, I studied all four of my final year modules with you, online. And I achieved a Second Upper. I credit you with pulling up my grades.
When I decided that I wanted to apply to study for the LL.M in the United States, you worked with me on my research papers and personal statements, and advised me on programs and universities. I got into my first choice university.
My dad had to work quite a lot of overtime hours, and my mom baked and sold many many many of her special tiered buttercream cakes to pay for my lessons and coaching sessions with you, but it was all worth it. Cool thing is, my mom eventually started her own bakery! Everyone was overwhelmingly overjoyed when I received my diploma.
What really helped was your to the point, connect the concepts and apply to real life method of teaching, and your very stringent marking.
It has been more than nine years since I first took lessons with you, but I will never forget what you said to me when I felt like giving up: “I see something in you worth nurturing…”
Now, as an attorney, I try to pay it forward and give of my time to nurture others, as you had with me.
Jose