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Brandon Tineo

1,565

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Finalist

Bio

I've never considered myself an educator. Seeing how hard my parents worked but still struggled, is where my relationship with education began. I saw it as an avenue to support my family and break our cycle of poverty. During college, while everyone networked, I spent over 50hrs/week working. Everything from cleaning dorm toilets to guiding campus tours. When the first college summer came around, having depleted myself through on-campus jobs, I returned home with nothing planned. Thus, I posted Craigslist ads offering one-on-one tutoring for K-12 students. The response was incredible. Within a month I had 30 local students. Building on this budding relationship with education, I've since consistently held numerous teaching positions at Harvard and UPenn even after graduating. Through all my hard work I've finally been able to give my family peace. I helped my parents recover the same house we foreclosed on in 2009, sponsored them for residency, and helped them re-open their Peruvian restaurant. During the pandemic, as their restaurant flailed, I kept everyone safe with my jobs. It's clear to me that my education got me exactly what my parents dreamed of—the opportunity for a better life. Last year I spun up a website with information on college admissions tutoring. I set affordable rates and advertised a pro-bono program for students facing financial hardships. Enabled by the normalcy of virtual learning post-pandemic, I've worked with over 200 students from all across the country. While I didn't consider myself one before, I am an educator. I am a proud educator.

Education

Stanford University

Master's degree program
2023 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Education, General

University of Pennsylvania

Master's degree program
2017 - 2019
  • Majors:
    • Computer Science

Harvard College

Bachelor's degree program
2011 - 2015
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General
  • Minors:
    • Computer Science

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Education, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Education

    • Dream career goals:

      As part of my tutoring company I recently came into contact with another educator in the Bay Area. Motivated by our discussions, I started planning how I can solve some of the biggest issues in education. In the future, I see myself teaming up with other educators to provide our services in a more strategic way. Start by catering to wealthy families, and then take the income generated here to bring these services for free directly to low-income families. This would entail finding real estate that can be used to set up a formal facility that attracts those who can afford the services, and also a large mobile trailer home that can be set up as a classroom on wheels for those who cannot. A natural extension is establishing a similar system in cities across the US and creating free content that can be distributed in mass to those that need it most. I envision everything from pre-recorded college counseling sessions to educational self-help books. The Stanford curriculum aligns perfectly with these future plans. The success of this endeavor requires deep examination of the systems that should collaborate to exalt students, but oftentimes oppress them. The government which can pass laws to equalize distribution of resources. Businesses which can create more accessible technology for all students. Civil societies which yield significant influence over both of the former. Prioritizing my understanding of these is exactly how I'd select my required research methods, policy, and organization courses. Using this information and leveraging the relationships I create at the business, law, and engineering schools, I'd then tackle the key component of the program that drew me to apply—the field project. I yearn to discuss my ideas with others. I want to figure out what materials would best be suited for different communities, how my idea can be expanded throughout the country, what technology could be used to automate admin work which detracts from student focused time, and what are the next steps to actually bring this plan to life in a scalable, meaningful, and lasting way. The questions are endless but I'm thrilled at the opportunity to focus on delivering a plan that details concrete steps to carry out in the next couple years.

    • Chef | Waiter | Server

      Golden Inca Peruvian Restaurant
      2004 – 20139 years
    • Chef | Waiter | Server | Accountant

      Inka Palace Restaurant
      2016 – 20204 years
    • Software Engineer

      Google
      2020 – Present4 years
    • Software Engineer

      PayPal
      2014 – 20206 years
    • Grader | Teaching Assistant

      Harvard University
      2013 – 20196 years
    • Teaching Assistant | Head Teaching Assistant

      University of Pennsylvania
      2017 – Present7 years
    • Founder and Head Tutor

      Tineo Tutoring Services
      2011 – Present13 years

    Sports

    Soccer

    Club
    2002 – Present22 years

    Research

    • Computer Science

      University of Pennsylvania — Researcher in group project
      2019 – 2019

    Arts

    • St. Matthew's Catholic School's Choir Club

      Music
      2002 – 2007
    • St. Matthews Catholic School Drama Club

      Acting
      The Phantom Tollbooth, The Music Man, Footloose, Lion King
      2004 – 2007

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Tineo Tutoring Services — Founder & Head Tutor
      2011 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Taylor Swift ‘1989’ Fan Scholarship
    My heart pounded in my chest as I turned around, my eyes filled with shock and disbelief. What had just happened? Was I offended? Did I enjoy it? Does not know making me disgusting? The first time I heard "Shake it Off," I was in college. It instantly transported me to a traumatic incident where a male student had harassed me by repeatedly slapping my behind and sticking his hand up my wrinkled white T-shirt. This incident left me feeling curious, but also ashamed as I struggled to understand myself and my feelings. Growing up in a Catholic middle school, I had not been taught about different sexualities or gender identities, and I felt lost and confused. During college, I studied mental health disorders, intergroup relations, sexuality, and various other principles that helped me grow on a personal level. Armed with this knowledge, I realized I had been ignorant to an entire community of LGBTQ people undergoing a similar process of discovery, denial, understanding, acceptance, and finally pride. However, my psychology classes brought an even more surprising realization—Unbeknownst to me, I had already successfully undergone this same process years before when I "discovered" I was a low-income first-generation Latino. This realization helped me embrace my differences and be proud of my cultural heritage. "Shake it Off" resonates with me because it captures the essence of self-acceptance and resilience. The upbeat tempo and empowering lyrics remind me to shake off the negativity and criticism from others, and to embrace my true self without fear or shame. It serves as a reminder that it's okay to be different, and that I don't have to conform to societal norms or expectations to be happy and successful. The music video for "Shake it Off" also garnered attention for its playful and colorful depiction of various dance styles, showcasing diversity and inclusivity. The video sends a powerful message of embracing different forms of expression and breaking free from societal norms and expectations. Furthermore, "Shake it Off" holds a special significance in my work as an educator. I share snippets of my journey with my students in the hopes of creating a safe space where they too can reflect on their progress and embrace their unique identities. I believe that exposure to diversity and fostering an inclusive environment is crucial in shaping responsible adults who will make positive contributions to the world. For many of them, Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" has become an anthem for me, representing self-acceptance, resilience, and embracing one's differences. It serves as a reminder to not let others define me or bring me down, and to continue to strive towards self-love and acceptance. As I continue my path of self-discovery and growth, "Shake it Off" continues to inspire and empower me on those days when self-doubt rears its ugly head.
    Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
    In 9th grade a male student repeatedly slapped my behind and then stuck his hand up my wrinkled white T-shirt. I spent several days afterward thinking about this. Although meant to discomfort me, I felt curious. However, this curiosity sparked prematurely. It came at a time where I didn't have the education to understand myself. All I knew was that given how hard my parents worked, I wanted to make them proud. At my Catholic middle school, I wasn't taught anything about other sexualities or gender identities. My curiosity soon transformed into shame and depression as Yahoo answers revealed I'd go to hell because I was likely gay. Hoping to still make my family proud, I worked harder than anyone could understand. I had to study. I had to learn. I had to stick out academically because that would make me a good kind of different. If I was this good kind of different, then I could ignore the other kind of different. Unfortunately striving to perform so well academically put me at increased risk for developing anxiety and depression. During college, I studied mental health disorders, intergroup relations, sexuality, and various other principles that helped me grow on a personal level. Armed with this knowledge, I realized I had been ignorant to an entire community of LGBTQ people undergoing a similar process of discovery, denial, understanding, acceptance, and finally pride. However, my psychology classes brought an even more surprising realization—Unbeknownst to me, I had already successfully undergone this same process years before when I "discovered" I was a low-income first-generation Latino. My mother often tells the story of the first time she walked past St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School. She turned to my dad and insisted that her future children would attend this San Mateo-based school. Her dream came true. Though repeatedly pulled out of class due to past-due tuition, we successfully graduated from this school and moved on to Serra High School, where I quickly secured scholarships that covered my tuition. However, at St. Matthews I was quickly confronted with how different I was from my peers. My parents weren't doctors nor investment bankers. I wasn't up-to-date on Jersey Shore episodes. I didn't know who Rihanna was. While my peers spent their evenings playing video games, I spent all my time at my family's Peruvian restaurant. Though "discovering" I was different initially prompted me to try and fit in by learning the lyrics to Natasha Beddingfield's top hits, I soon transitioned to depression from feeling so left out. Over time, I found solace in embracing my cultural differences. From serving tables at my parents' Peruvian restaurant to preparing delicious Alfajores, to chatting with customers about their childhood memories in Lima, I cherished every moment and learned to love my culture. Nowadays I still deal with depression and anxiety but armed with tools such as therapy and medication I'm able to embrace who I am fully and proudly. I share snippets of this journey with all of the high school students I work with in the hopes of creating a safe space where they too can reflect on the progress they've made. Successfully capturing the essence of this growth in their college applications is one of my biggest priorities because I firmly believe that exposure to diversity is intrinsic to creating responsible adults who will make the world a better place through the way they treat others.
    Elijah's Helping Hand Scholarship Award
    In 9th grade a male student repeatedly slapped my behind and then stuck his hand up my wrinkled white T-shirt. I spent several days afterward thinking about this. Although meant to discomfort me, I felt curious. However, this curiosity sparked prematurely. It came at a time where I didn't have the education to understand myself. All I knew was that given how hard my parents worked, I wanted to make them proud. At my Catholic middle school, I wasn't taught anything about other sexualities or gender identities. My curiosity soon transformed into shame and depression as Yahoo answers revealed I'd go to hell because I was likely gay. Hoping to still make my family proud, I worked harder than anyone could understand. I had to study. I had to learn. I had to stick out academically because that would make me a good kind of different. If I was this good kind of different, then I could ignore the other kind of different. Unfortunately striving to perform so well academically put me at increased risk for developing anxiety and depression. During college, I studied mental health disorders, intergroup relations, sexuality, and various other principles that helped me grow on a personal level. Armed with this knowledge, I realized I had been ignorant to an entire community of LGBTQ people undergoing a similar process of discovery, denial, understanding, acceptance, and finally pride. However, my psychology classes brought an even more surprising realization—Unbeknownst to me, I had already successfully undergone this same process years before when I "discovered" I was a low-income first-generation Latino. My mother often tells the story of the first time she walked past St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School. She turned to my dad and insisted that her future children would attend this San Mateo-based school. Her dream came true. Though repeatedly pulled out of class due to past-due tuition, we successfully graduated from this school and moved on to Serra High School, where I quickly secured scholarships that covered my tuition. However, at St. Matthews I was quickly confronted with how different I was from my peers. My parents weren't doctors nor investment bankers. I wasn't up-to-date on Jersey Shore episodes. I didn't know who Rihanna was. While my peers spent their evenings playing video games, I spent all my time at my family's Peruvian restaurant. Though "discovering" I was different initially prompted me to try and fit in by learning the lyrics to Natasha Beddingfield's top hits, I soon transitioned to depression from feeling so left out. Over time, I found solace in embracing my cultural differences. From serving tables at my parents' Peruvian restaurant to preparing delicious Alfajores, to chatting with customers about their childhood memories in Lima, I cherished every moment and learned to love my culture. Nowadays I still deal with depression and anxiety but armed with tools such as therapy and medication I'm able to embrace who I am fully and proudly. I share snippets of this journey with all of the high school students I work with in the hopes of creating a safe space where they too can reflect on the progress they've made. Successfully capturing the essence of this growth in their college applications is one of my biggest priorities because I firmly believe that exposure to diversity is intrinsic to creating responsible adults who will make the world a better place through the way they treat others.