Peer Tutor Spotlight – Kyle Fernandez

Photo source: Kyle Fernandez

Hi there! I’m Kyle Fernandez, and I am currently in the latter half of my third year in the Integrated Sciences program, integrating medical microbiology and public health. I live in Port Coquitlam, but I was born and raised (for 11 years!) in Davao City, Philippines.

Currently, I am a peer tutor for BIOL 112, a first-year level cellular biology course. Though I took this course in 2019, its concepts and lessons are still widely applicable in my upper-year level courses, which is why I adore BIOL 112 so much!

What do you most enjoy about being a peer tutor?

Echoing previous peer tutors’ and TA’s sentiments, I can say that seeing the exact moment a student grasps a concept is the most enjoyable (and satisfying) part of being a peer tutor. I also love chatting about life and getting to know the students during office hours! I always appreciate a nice chat to take a break from academics.

What has been an interesting outcome of your peer tutoring experience?

Since starting my role as a peer tutor, I’ve become more appreciative of the resources and time professors and departments provide to support students and their learning. Simply reaching out to your professor/teaching team regarding any (and I mean ANY) concerns you may have, could make a HUGE difference to your experience in the course. As an undergraduate myself, I tend to forget that my professors, TAs, and peer tutors were once in my shoes as well, so if they know anything, it’s the undergraduate experience!

How has your unique background influenced your peer tutoring experience?

I’m very interested in art and design, so being able to integrate that into teaching abstract cell biology concepts has been super interesting! Through simplified diagrams, I can teach cell biology in a concise, yet digestible manner!

What is something that you are currently doing in the UBC teaching and learning space that you are excited about?

Holding office hours! I’m thrilled that I get to hold office hours and work through difficult concepts and problems with other people taking the course. Sometimes it takes another perspective or explanation to parse through a question, and I love being able to sit down and dissect that with my students. I hope to hold office hours in person soon to meet some students face to face and not through a screen.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to draw and paint in my free time. I have always loved art and continue to find ways for me to express my creativity despite studying science! May it be drawing out complex anatomical structures or little doodles on the side of my notebook, I am always finding time to draw and destress from school. It also helps that what I study requires tons of visualization!

Below are some recreations of famous paintings/photographs I’ve done that are currently housed at my old high school.

What is a fun fact about you that people may not know?

A fun fact about me is that I love watching horror movies and sometimes watch them alone! This is a bit counterintuitive since I’m a huge scaredy-cat, but I enjoy the thrill. If I had to pick my favourite movie franchise, it would have to be Scream!

What are your plans following graduation?

Following graduation, I hope to be more involved in public health! May it be going to graduate studies or working in the field, I’d be ecstatic to be able to immerse myself in anything related to public and international health or health policy. Besides that, I would like to explore teaching as well, as I grew to love it thanks to BIOL 112.

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