Matthew D

My Passion & How I Inspire

The first part of my passion for Economics comes from my interest in how people make decisions, which is more a branch of psychological studies than of any other field. Thinking about how the economy works from a psychological perspective is completely natural, because these the economy is based (among other things) on psychological processes, as such processes are necessary to make any economic decision. Additionally, my passion was stimulated because of the immense presence of Economics in the world around us. This means that if you are interested in Economic behaviour as a way of observing and understanding a particular form of human behaviour, you will find little that gives you more food for thought than Economics! Every single person who goes through the modern education system, whether they are studying Economics or not, is involved in a fundamentally Economic process, and their lives will be inextricably linked to the economy they reside in and their role within it. Economics is a huge part of the world we have built around ourselves, and if we are passionate about understanding that world, we must be passionate about Economics.

Much like my passion for Economics, my inspiration to tutor comes from the activity itself, rather than any specific external source. For somebody passionate about an academic discipline, it provides a great opportunity to remain engaged with the field; in fact, it is a constant source of gratitude in my life that my job is essentially to talk about my favourite subject!

Outside of passion for the subject, I think there is another key source of inspiration; the ability to steer the course of people's lives in a positive manner, and if they go on to great success, perhaps the course of the country, or even the world! Most great people have great teachers at some point in their lives (whether those be parents, role models or actual teachers). The opportunity to contribute to the achievements of others, no matter the scale, is a hugely inspiring opportunity to take. You might say that what inspires me to tutor is the potential to inspire students!

How I inspire my students? This one is much simpler! Exemplary dedication and enthusiasm. My commitment to my students means they are inspired to work harder themselves. My enthusiasm means they are inspired to engage with the subject; Economics has such a dry and dusty reputation, but I believe that with a nudge in the right direction, students can easily see the endlessly fascinating and relatable sides of the discipline. Throughout my career I have had wonderful feedback from students, who have highlighted these traits just as often as my subject knowledge.