July TOTM Blog

Take a look into what a typical day looks like for our Tutor of the Month, Allison Quach, in this Q&A!

A Typical Day for Allison, POWAN’s July TOTM

Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

AQ: I check my emails and messages.

Q: Do you have a morning routine?

AQ: Yes. As I brush my teeth and apply my skincare, I like to think about ten things I am grateful for every day. I make my bed after, make sure I drink water, and then I head over to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and breakfast.

Q: What does your class schedule look like?

AQ: I am currently taking summer classes at the moment. I have four physics lectures, one lab, and two discussions a week.

Q: Do you have any extracurriculars? What is your favorite extracurricular and why?

AQ: Yes, I am currently involved in a professional pre-health organization known as Delta Epsilon Mu, a free health clinic called Crescent Clinic that is partnered with SHIP at UCI, a research lab on campus focusing on community health and epidemiology, STEM Goes Red OC, and a couple of dental organizations on campus!

I really enjoy being a part of Delta Epsilon Mu. I’ve been a member of the organization for the past two years and it has provided me with life-long friendships, professional connections, and opportunities for me to further develop my passion in health.

Q: Do you have any special tips on how to tackle schoolwork and projects?

AQ: My biggest tip is to use a planner! Having an organized system helps with tackling projects over time and ensures you don’t miss any deadlines.

Q: How do you unwind at the end of the day?

AQ: I’ll typically open up YouTube or TikTok.

Q: How has your POWAN experience been?

AQ: It’s been a very smooth journey. I really enjoy the flexibility of it all and being a helpful resource and connection to students. I joined POWAN because I wanted to give back to the community. Especially during a pandemic, remote learning can be difficult for students to understand and grasp concepts. Free, quality tutoring services are difficult to come by, which is why I wanted to be a part of POWAN to combat that challenge.

Something Special That Happened Recently

  1. A few weeks ago, I applied for a research assistant position and received the offer!
  2. It was special to me because I’ve been wanting to be a part of a research lab since the beginning of college. With this research lab in particular, it focuses on epidemiology and community health, which are a few of the topics I’m interested in as a public health sciences student.

Allison’s Biggest Accomplishment

Q: What was your biggest academic accomplishment or your greatest accomplishment in general?

AQ: One of my biggest academic accomplishments was getting into the universities I applied for! The process of applying and being admitted can be challenging especially with limited resources and knowledge. Although the universities where a student applies to, is admitted to, and attends certainly do not define them, it is a great feat regardless. Having the opportunity to pursue higher education is a huge accomplishment and a rewarding experience

Q: Was there anyone or any resources that you used to help you get this point?

AQ: My family, friends, and YouTube!

Q: If someone wanted to follow in your footsteps, what is one piece of advice you would give them?

AQ: Do not get attached to the name or prestige of an institution–it’s quality education regardless of where you attend! Use a planner and stay organized, take care of yourself and enjoy the company and support of your loved ones, and find opportunities where you can cultivate relationships, develop growth in all areas of life, and where your presence is truly valued.

Q: If you could go back in time to change one thing about the process leading up to your success, what would it be and why?

AQ: I would be more open-minded and less intimidated to explore different careers, hobbies, and people! I believe attending college has helped me grow academically, professionally, socially, and personally.