Zinc tutor and Boot Camp teacher Destry was born and raised in Portland, Maine. She has a BA from Amherst College and an MA in digital media and narrative nonfiction from the City University of New York. She has experience teaching students of all ages, from kindergarten to college, and previously served as an Education Fellow at the New York Public Library. When she is not tutoring, Destry is pursuing her doctorate in English literature and working as a freelance writer and media producer. She was a Fulbright Scholar and National Geographic Digital Storyteller in Mexico in 2018.
We asked Destry about favorite teachers, life-changing reads, and college advice.
It would be too hard for me to pick one; I’ve had so many teachers who have changed my life meaningfully. But my favorite teachers have had a few qualities in common: a razor-sharp intellect, an appreciation for the political nature of pedagogy, and a vision of the thinker and person I could become.
Every good book changes the way I see the world! Isn’t that the point of reading? But the last great book I read was When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka, a fictional account of one family’s experience surviving a Japanese internment camp in the 1940s. Otsuka’s prose is luminescent.
It’s all going to be okay. The college you go to is ultimately not going to be the thing that determines your fate. You can have a successful, fulfilling, meaningful, and joy-filled life, no matter the college you attend.
Check out some of the recent podcasts Destry has produced:
The Children of Morelia on The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Trump Closed the U.S. to Asylum Seekers on The New Yorker Radio Hour
Visit Destry’s website to learn more!
Zinc Reading Labs seeks submissions for our first Teen Writing Contest. Winners will receive a $100 cash prize and publication on Zinc Reading Labs, a site visited by thousands of teens daily. The deadline to submit is May 31, 2021. We’re looking for standout poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or memoir that leaves us thinking for days. […]
Zinc’s Favorite Selective Summer Programs Immersive study in a key area of interest is both a meaningful opportunity for growth and a worthwhile addition to a college application. We’re continuing our series on our favorite summer intensives for teens, grouped by subject area. We’re focusing on selective, highly regarded programs that offer exceptional instruction. Many […]
Zinc’s Favorite Selective Summer Programs Immersive study in a key area of interest is both a meaningful opportunity for growth and a worthwhile addition to a college application. In the next few posts, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite summer intensives for teens, grouped by subject area. We’ll focus on selective, highly regarded programs […]
Check out Zinc’s latest college admissions webinar, where our experts discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020-21 admissions cycle. They also shared insider tips on researching schools, the application process, and what to do once you’ve been admitted. Moderated by Anne Pratt, Zinc’s college counselor, with: Adam Sapp, Assistant Vice President and Director of Admission, […]
As college admissions data continues to roll in, we’re starting to get a sense of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the landscape. We’ll explore trends from this year’s exceptional cycle and learn what these developments might mean for current juniors and sophomores. Moderated by Anne Pratt, Zinc’s college counselorPanelists:Adam Sapp, Assistant Vice President and […]
The Zinc Method for Success When taking the test–or doing anything else where you need to use your brain–your goal is to work smarter, not harder. Zinc tutors coach students in skipping and coming back, our test-taking method for harnessing your brain power. When you master the method, you maximize your time, get more questions […]
Zinc was recently reviewed by The Franklin Report. This prestigious resource for the very best of New York awarded Zinc 5 stars, their highest rating. In the world of high-stakes, high-level test prep, Zinc stands out for its holistic philosophy. Founded by former teacher Matt Bardin, the company takes the radical approach of treating standardized […]
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