Today we’d like to introduce you to Semaj Thompson.
Hi Semaj, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Whenever I talk about how I got started with tutoring, I usually talk about my service with Americorps after I graduated from high school. But, thinking back, I’ve actually been doing this for longer than I’d remembered. As a sophomore in high school, I worked as an assistant to a mental health therapist, and aside from helping her fill out paperwork and things of that nature, I got a lot of face time with the kids she worked with. There was one particular client of hers who was a senior in high school and found herself failing her math class. Graduating was so important to her success in therapy that the therapist began to pay me to tutor her. At the time, I was only a sophomore and I hadn’t begun to learn some of the math that she needed assistance with, but we worked together, watching videos, taking notes, and completing practice assignments until we brought her average, which I believe was initially in the thirties to a passing grade.
During this time, I realized how much I loved helping others get to their “aha” moment. Seeing things click for people. It was a few years later after I graduated high school and moved to Wisconsin to serve with an Americorps program called City Year, where I got a lot of my experience, serving over 3400 hours in the public school system as a tutor and mentor. Eventually, I made my way to New Orleans where I started school at Dillard University as a Chemistry and Biology double major, but COVID brought me back to Atlanta, and I switched to Loyola University New Orleans as a virtual student studying neuroscience which was more aligned with my passions. During this time, I began tutoring students virtually while also assisting with the virtual schooling of a five-year-old. I launched my website and really started putting myself out there. Today, I tutor people of all ages in multiple subjects across several states. It’s been a long journey to get to where I am today, and I’m so excited to see what’s next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s for sure worth it. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of time, effort, and energy. I’ve found myself at a point of burnout quite a few times, and coming back from that is challenging. But the rewards make it all worthwhile. Seeing the smiles on the faces of my students when they get back their report cards or when they reach the end of the school year and find out they won’t be failing after all. I can see how much the work that I do makes a difference. Every time I’ve found myself questioning whether or not I should continue doing this, the answer has been immediate in some form of success or accomplishment that benefits myself or someone I’m working with, and it makes me remember just how fulfilling this is.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Everyone Can Learn Tutoring and Coaching Services is my passion project, and I hope to one day expand to have physical tutoring and research centers across the nation. I specialize in academic intervention services and life coaching. Basically, meeting students where they are and helping them build the necessary skills for success. Whether they need help keeping up with their current school work, or we need to work from the beginning and fill in some educational gaps because they missed a key concept years ago, we address it and build upon it. I tutor pretty much all subjects for all ages. I have students in preschool learning to read and I have students in their forties who have decided to go back and get a degree. I also help with organizational skills, resume building, job applications, goal setting, and other helpful services in regard to helping my clients work towards the life that they envision for themselves.
One thing that sets me apart from others is that I am still a student myself, and I face my own challenges when it comes to learning certain material. In learning to support myself through my own academic battles, I’m able to relate to my students and also provide them with new ways of approaching different topics based on techniques and strategies that I learn along the way. I’ve been the struggling student, but I’ve also been the student that thrives, many times in both capacities so I know what it’s like and what it takes to push yourself to a place of success.
I love what I do, and I love knowing that I’m helping people along the way as best as I can. So I want readers to know that even if my tutoring services aren’t something they can afford for themselves or their children, I’m still interested in helping. I started my TikTok account, where I post quick videos on different math and science topics so that I’m able to reach the masses. Most of the content I post is aligned with what I know students should be learning in accordance with the time of year and common core standards and I plan to really start cranking out material in the coming months!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I like that Atlanta is where you can become whoever you want if you’re willing to put yourself out there. There are so many opportunities just waiting to be tapped into, and so many organizations are dedicated to helping people reach their dreams. Getting to share my story and talk about the work that I’m doing is a great example of this. People see me and the work that I’m doing, and I’m being offered so much support. It’s incredible. If I had to choose a dislike about Atlanta, I’d have to say it’s the overall setup. I absolutely love water, and I like to be surrounded by it. When I’m in New Orleans, I’m surrounded by water from all sides wherever I look. Unfortunately, Atlanta just isn’t set up like that.
Pricing:
- One-on-One Tutoring, Study Sessions, or Academic Intervention: $45/hour
- Group Sessions: $60+/hour
- Life Coaching: $55/hour
- Writing Support: $55/hour
- Test Prep: $70/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.everyonecanlearntutoring.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everyonecanlearntutoring/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everyonecanlearntutoringservices/
- Other: Tiktok: @ecltutoring
