Hi. My name is Danielle. I'm a freshman and I'm a Teaching Assistant, more commonly known as a TA, for a Computer Science class. I am a Communication Studies major.
Weird huh? That's what I thought when I first was offered a position. Now it doesn't really make sense that I was offered a position for something that isn't even my major, but I do have ~some~ experience. I took the exact same class that I TA for last semester. The class is currently still under construction; it is an introductory course offered to most people to fufill a graduation requirement. I mean, that was the reason that I took the class in the first place.
Long story short, I was able to grasp the concepts pretty well and pull off an A in the class. My semester long group members suggest my name on the list of "new potential TA's" and I was sent an email. Over winter break I debated whether I wanted to submit myself to TA'ing for a class that I felt like I didn't have a full grasp over, yet my mom convinced me to try it out. Her theory: I was getting paid better than I did in retail and I could always send students to other people for help.
Not only did I find out I actually got the position the day before classes started, but I also had to get myself on the Tech payroll. For those who work for the university, you know this is no easy task. I had to redo my tax form at least three times. Apparently claiming exempt and exemptions are different things, and honestly I had to call my mom about four times for help. The first day I came to class I was intimidated like no other. What if I forgot all my material? How was I supposed to tell students what to do if I didn't even know what to do. I was younger than most, if not all, of the students in the class and yet I was supposed to teach them.
Fast forward to now, as the semester is coming to a close. I was able to gain my footing baby steps at a time, and I still have to ask other TA's or the professor for help every now and then. I don't think I would want to redo my experience over, for I learned a lot of things. Like how to do taxes. Or how to deal with students who try to sweet talk their way to an A. Or how weekly check up meetings are really important. Or how to help people without giving up and giving the answer.
(Side note: For those who tried to sweet talk me into raising their grade, I only said I would lower it if they kept it up. Works every time)
Now I know that being a TA isn't something that everyone should or will get to do, but that's not the point. The point is that everyone should get out of their comfort zone. Everyone should try something that they question because you will grow as a person. In my case, I became more confident in my abilities and learned what it's actually like to be a professor. Honestly, If I can keep doing this until I graduate I will.
Who knows, maybe I'll even switch my major.
Ha ha ha, not.
