"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
Hi there! My name is Josiah, and I am a recent graduate from California Baptist University looking to use my gift of teaching as a way to form meaningful experiences with students. I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and experience working in the aerospace industry. I recently left my job as an engineering intern in Central Oregon to pursue other important things in life. My mission is to engage with my church community, make new, lasting connections in Riverside, and use my God-given gifts to help others… namely other students!
I thrive in one-on-one conversations and enjoy interacting with students of all ages. I volunteer as a child-care assistant through my church, something that brings me a great sense of joy. As the oldest boy in my family with three younger sisters I have had many opportunities to teach and mentor them, both in academics and life. People who know me tell me I have a gift of listening genuinely to others. This is something I bring to teaching conversations as I strive to adapt to the needs and learning style of the student.
My strengths lie in math and science; however, I am capable of tutoring other subjects as well. I am proficient in common high-school subjects such as physics, algebra, and geometry. As a visual/kinesthetic learner myself, I find it important to bring real-life examples into my teaching as often as possible. My goal is always to inspire creativity through learning so students can experience the desire to learn. I firmly believe in the importance of equipping students with the skill of thinking critically and creatively.
My life with Jesus began when I was four years old. I was a mischievous kid, always keeping my mom on her toes. One evening, I was having a conversation with my mom about spiritual things and asked her what “sin” was. She drew out the bridge illustration of the gospel and showed me how my sins were the things I did that displeased God. These separated me from God, and the only way to have a relationship with him was through believing in his son, Jesus. That night, I confessed my sin and prayed to receive Jesus as my Savior. I spent the next three years overseas in Asia with my parents, who taught English at several universities. We returned to the U.S. in 2008, and over the next few years, I spent time growing up in the church and Christian school, learning about God and forming friendships with other kids from Christian families.
At 13, I had several negative experiences that caused me to doubt my faith in God. I struggled to believe that a God who claimed he loved and listened to me would continue to allow me to suffer. Alone in my thoughts and on the verge of losing my faith, I told God I didn’t know where else to go; he was my only source of spiritual security. I made the decision to trust him in the midst of my pain and lack of understanding, and shortly after, God finally delivered me from the situation. This experience brought a new level of intimacy to my relationship with God, and I recommitted my life to be an intentional follower of Jesus. As I’ve continued to face difficulties in life, I’ve been able to reflect on this time and remember that God is a God who sees and cares, even when we are suffering. This is a core belief that I hope to encourage others with as I continue my journey with God.