The International Baccalaureate (IB) is one of the most challenging academic programs, and for many students, it can feel overwhelming. That was the case for Yumi, who found herself juggling unfamiliar coursework, falling confidence, and intense expectations. But with the right support, those challenges became an opportunity for growth — and ultimately, a chance to give back.
In this Q&A, we speak with Yumi, a Harding Miller Education Foundation (HMEF) scholar and now a Learnmate tutor, who went from IB struggles to mentoring herself to complete the full circle of education! We discuss with Yumi how one-on-one support helped her regain confidence, achieve results, and how it now enables her to support others on the same path.
“Learnmate gave me the confidence to succeed — and the chance to give back.”
1. Getting Started with Learnmate
Learnmate: Can you share a little about your academic journey and how you came to Learnmate as an HMEF scholar?
Yumi: I’ve always set very high goals for myself and have worked hard to achieve the best possible academic results. However, when I started the IB curriculum, I quickly realised how different the curriculum was from what I’d previously studied, and I found myself struggling with a few subjects.
As an HMEF scholar, we were given access to a list of recommended tutoring organisations, which included Learnmate. I tried a few other platforms, but many of them did not offer support tailored to the IB curriculum. IB and ATAR syllabuses are quite different, so sometimes I was not able to receive the support that I hoped for from my tutors.
What stood out to me about Learnmate was the variety of tutors from different educational systems, including the IB, and I was soon able to find a great IB tutor on Learnmate.
| 💡 The Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship is for girls attending Australian Public Schools who demonstrate academic excellence, face financial barriers, and are highly motivated to succeed at school and pursue tertiary education. For Yumi, it opened the door to Learnmate — and lasting academic change. |
2. Facing IB Challenges
Learnmate: What challenges were you facing at the time, and how did tutoring help you overcome them?
Yumi: During the IB, I was especially struggling with Chemistry and English. For a long time, I was unable to score anything above a 6 for my term exams, and this really took a toll on my self-confidence.
Aside from helping me understand difficult concepts in these subjects, my tutors helped by sharing their own personal experiences, including moments where they also felt discouraged by disappointing grades, and what strategies helped them improve.
This made me realise that it’s normal for grades to fluctuate at times and to feel disheartened by it, but the most important thing is to always keep going.
3. Regaining Confidence
Learnmate: Was there a moment when you started to feel more confident in your learning? What changed for you?
Yumi: I don’t think there was a single moment when I started to feel more confident in my learning, but rather a gradual shift.
Over time, I started to notice improvements in my understanding and results, which made me feel more confident in my studying strategies. I think this change came from both consistent tutoring and a shift in mindset.
One-on-one tutoring also allowed me to ask questions I was often too afraid to ask in class. Over time, this helped me build the confidence to speak up more during classes as well. Because of this, I felt like I was starting to take better charge of my learning, not just in tutoring sessions but in the classroom.
4. Becoming a Tutor
Learnmate: What inspired you to become a tutor on Learnmate?
Yumi: Being supported by so many great tutors and experiencing improvements in not only my academics but also changes in self-confidence really inspired me to become a tutor myself.
With all the skills and knowledge I’ve gained during the IB and through the guidance of my tutors, I wanted to use this to help other students who might be struggling the same way I once did.
5. Supporting Students
Learnmate: What’s it like now, supporting your own students? Do you ever see your younger self in them?
Yumi: Supporting my own students has been incredibly fulfilling! Even if it requires me to spend extra time outside of our sessions, I am always happy to do so as I want to provide my students the best support possible.
I definitely see my younger self in some students. When they tell me they don’t feel confident or they feel discouraged in certain areas, it really resonates with me because I know exactly how it feels.
So I make it a priority to not only support them academically but also help them rebuild their confidence and encourage them to keep going, just like my tutors once did for me.
6. Most Rewarding Moment
Learnmate: What is the most rewarding part about being a tutor yourself?
Yumi: The most rewarding part of tutoring has been hearing from students that I was able to help them even in small ways.
Seeing my students become more sure of themselves and their abilities is incredibly fulfilling, and it reminds me why I love tutoring so much.
A Special Message to My Learnmate Tutor
Yumi: I just wanted to say thank you! For not only helping me improve my grades, but also for always believing in me and encouraging me to keep going.
Your support made a really big difference to me.
💬 A Reflection from Learnmate.At Learnmate, stories like Yumi’s are what make everything we do worthwhile. It’s a privilege to work alongside incredible organisations like the Harding Miller Education Foundation and to support their mission of empowering high-achieving and aspirational girls through education. Watching someone like Yumi come full circle - from struggling student to confident mentor - is the kind of journey that fills the heart with warmth and the head with determination. It reminds us why access to quality, one-on-one support matters. We couldn’t be prouder to have played even a small part in Yumi’s academic story. |
Ready to Start Your Own Learnmate Journey?
Whether you're seeking tutoring support or ready to give back as a tutor yourself, Learnmate is here to help.
With expert tutors and a supportive national community, we’re proud to help students thrive - not just academically, but with confidence, purpose, and independence.
You can find your tutor - or become one - on Learnmate.
