Tutor Spotlights
Meet Van, October 2026 Tutor of the Month
Spotlight on Van
Van takes time out of her busy schedule as a medical assistant to help her student, a woman from Malaysia.
LVSC Journey: I first became an LVSC volunteer in September 2024.
What motivated you to become an LVSC volunteer? I was in ESL classes for my first few years after moving to the U.S. from Vietnam during middle school. I wouldn’t be here today without my ESL teachers and friends who not only helped me overcome the language barrier but also the culture shock. Becoming an LVSC volunteer ESL tutor is one of the most meaningful and fulfilling things I’ve done in my life.
Proud LVSC Moment: During one of our meetings last June, Sook mentioned to me that she noticed that she got better and faster at writing compared to when we first met in the fall of 2024. She didn’t need me to spell out every word for her any more. I was so happy and proud of the hard work and determination that Sook has been putting in since we met and the noticeable improvement in her English writing skills.
Van and Sook.Day Job: I am a medical assistant.
Hobbies: Hiking and exploring nature; photography and watching K-dramas.
Favorite Quotes: “I can’t go on. I’ll go on.” – Samuel Beckett
“Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still it is never complete.” – Paul Kalanithi
Favorite Food: My favorite food is Vietnamese food.
Favorite Book: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
R&R Spot: Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on Long Beach Island.