Have you ever had a teacher who is an absolutely brilliant person, and a terrible educator? One who seems to know everything about their subject, and nothing about how to help others understand it? Some college professors are like this—incredible researchers and intellectuals who don’t really have a passion for teaching. These people may be able to have great careers in academia, and make significant contributions to their scholarly field, but they would never be a good tutor. The art of tutoring really comes down to the transfer, not the possession, of knowledge, the ability to simplify complex topics, and the capacity for human connection—this means that good communication skills are absolutely necessary for a tutor. If a tutor is not a skilled communicator, then they will be unable to adequately transfer their knowledge and help their student. And communication itself depends upon connection—a good tutor must have the ability to connect with their students as people, to be relatable, to empathize, and, perhaps most importantly, to make things interesting. If a tutor can make a subject genuinely compelling for a student, then this will incentivize improvement, academic progress, and independent learning. Because ultimately, while a tutor can help a student reach their goals, real achievement falls into the hands of the student—a tutor will not be with them when they take notes in class, take a test, or deliver a presentation. But a tutor can help spark genuine interest in a student, which is the ultimate key to success in any class, subject, or skill. The most successful students are self-motivated, and tutors can help to develop this independence.