My name is Tristan Diakos

You might not know me, but my name is Tristan Diakos, and I’ve gone from failing Year 9 maths to co-founding a tutoring business that helps thousands of students across NSW.

Back in Year 9, my grades were well below average, and maths was my weakest subject. My parents, concerned about my future, enrolled me in a large tutoring centre. But when I sat down with my learning packet, I could barely answer a single question while my classmates finished early. I felt frustrated, embarrassed, and like I was falling further behind.

After some time, I convinced my parents to try something else, and they hired a private tutor. That’s when everything changed. For the first time, I worked with someone who understood how I learned. My tutor didn’t just teach the material, they helped me connect the dots, gave me the right support, and built my confidence.

By the time I graduated, I had an ATAR in the top 7% of the state and went on to study Engineering at the University of Sydney (My Goal). That experience transformed my view on learning and sparked a passion for education, which led me to co-found NextStepAcademy.

Now, we’re on a mission to help students across NSW experience the same breakthroughs, improve their marks, and develop a whole new approach to learning.