Below you will discover the real accounts of our Learning Assistants and their experience that they wish to pass onto our future cohorts!
Dear Future LA,
My name is Cecile and I wanted to become an LA because I’m constantly trying to improve my skill set with concepts in science. However, I also wanted to help students learn with a perspective I felt I could contribute to the program. General Chemistry 1 is the workshop I taught and as a student, it was hard for me to go through the course and still sometimes confuses me. From an LA’s perspective, teaching students who have to go through the same exercises and lessons as you, I got to experience the material over again from a new point of view that helps me as a person become closer to their goal of mastering a skill. I love to volunteer and overall want to have a positive impact on those who I encounter in life which counted as another point that motivated why I wanted to be an LA because we are helping students become familiar with this material they find worth learning but also creating a positive environment when learning and building a connection between student and instructor. My biggest challenge as an LA was not only getting out of my comfort zone and becoming more experienced in public speaking but it was actually having to take on a teacher’s perspective because we are all accustomed to the feeling of being impostors in this role. Not every student faces this challenge but it is still something to constantly consider when stepping into a role with new responsibilities. However, it was definitely worth it. The biggest takeaway for me with being an LA were the interactions with the students and being able to see the connection with subjects taught click for them individually and them trying to explain that with their group. It was constantly something to learn and you definitely don’t have to be fully confident in your skills with the subject you teach just as long as you’re passionate about it and feel like you can contribute something to the program you will be a great fit. The support within this program is astounding and the communication and bridges you build with your professor and fellow students make this program what it is. Some useful information to consider with becoming an LA is knowing that everyone has a different specialty they can bring to the table not everyone is supposed to be compared and that is what is talked/preached about in the LA program it favors diversity in all aspects and meanings to the word. It is not based on knowledge and how well you performed in the course you are teaching for it is purely about your experience and what you gained from it. I have only seen a few programs such as this one that has supported students as leaders/teachers and know they are still students at the end of the day. Those few programs within this campus will mark as one of the highlights of college for me because of my progression from them along with this program and the lessons taught. I would like to thank the coordinators and teaching staff of U of A at Little Rock for this experience.
Sincerely,
Cecile
Dear Future LA,
I am Desiree, previous LA of Mrs.Kattoum for her fundamental chemistry course. Initially, I wanted to be an LA for the experience and to deepen my understanding of chemistry because I know that there were some things that I did not fully understand while taking Gen Chem 1. I honestly saw the opportunity as one of growth and something that would only turn out beneficial in the end– not only for me but for others. I would gain more confidence and leadership/teaching skills while refreshing myself of the material and the students would gain someone that they would possibly feel more comfortable approaching over the professor.
So far, everything that I felt I would gain from this experience I have and more. This experience has meant so much to me and I am grateful for the opportunity. I have learned many new ways of thinking and how to approach problems through the pedagogy course. I have made new connections with other students of the actual chem course and the LA course itself. I am now more educated in terms of how to correctly interact with people in a learning environment and am more confident in my ability to help others. My workshop classes were amazing. There were some ups and downs, but overall I would say that it was all worth it. I feel like the students and I both came out victorious in the end, having all left learning something in a way.
One of my biggest challenges that I have faced this semester is initially not knowing how to approach students that are hard to work with. Beforehand, I never thought about how I would have to deal with difficult students. I just thought that people would show up to class, participate, and leave because that was my experience as a student in a workshop. However, I did encounter a difficult student this semester who was kind of pushy and did not have a positive attitude towards chemistry. This student would just exude that kind of attitude in class and it would affect others. I had to learn how to approach the student and how I could first be of help to them because maybe it wasn’t an intentional thing, but honest frustration. As it turned out, it was honest frustration. I had to be understanding and open-minded when communicating with this student, an approach I probably would have not done if I did not have the pedagogy course to remind me of the “daily norms”. You have to remember to stay in that kind of mindset.
My biggest takeaway from being an LA is it’s all about the quality that you give and the interactions that you have with students. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is important to effectively communicate and work through problems together. It is not about just getting to an answer, but about understanding how you get there. Every day will not necessarily be easy, but everything is doable with the right mindset.
Keep high spirits. Stay motivated, for you and for your students. Don’t shy away from opportunities. Everything is a learning experience and this is one that will definitely pay off in the end.
Best wishes. Be sure to enjoy every ounce of the experience.
Desiree
Dear Future Learning Assistant,
My name is Taylor and I’ve been a learning assistant for 3 semesters since having Mrs. Kattoum. I wanted to become an LA because the LA I had in chemistry wasn’t very engaging. I felt as though I could help more and connect with the students better and that’s when I first got interested. There’s nothing I love more than meeting and connecting with new people, and getting to teach my favorite subject while doing it is truly a dream. You will have no better feeling than helping someone else succeed with their goals. Being an LA has honestly been the best experience for me. I take so much pride and joy in helping someone learn a concept in chemistry or filling in gaps they might have missed in their past experiences with it. It truly makes my day meeting students and making them feel like they belong in the classroom and making them laugh. I know that when I’m learning it makes me feel so much better when the teacher is welcoming and brings laughter into the learning environment. I will say although being a learning assistant is very rewarding, there also comes challenges at times. Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed with your own classes or personal life, but the teachers really are there for you and are wanting you to succeed as well as their students. Dr. Moore’s door is always open and he’s a great therapist ;) haha. You’ll also come across students who may are disruptive in the classroom and won’t let you help them, but be patient and try your best and in the end if you need help just go to Mrs. Kattoum with your issues. It doesn’t make you any less capable of being an LA when you need help and it doesn’t make you a tattle tail if you need to tell her about another student’s behavior. The biggest thing you can take away from being a learning assistant is that you really do become a part of a community. You meet a lot of other students who love helping others and also get to meet some of your peers that you might not get a chance to interact with otherwise. You build so many new relationships and grow so much from this experience as you learn more people skills and teaching skills. Overall just always go in with a positive attitude and open mind and you’ll reap so many benefits from your experience in the classroom with the students that you never thought you would.
I wish you my best,
Taylor
Dear Future LA,
This is a letter that describes my experience as an LA. I hope this can speak to you and provide clarity for what kind of an experience you are embarking on. I wanted to open with some neutral statements before revealing how much I loved this experience and how rewarding I found our Tuesday night class to be. I wanted to be an LA because upon graduating I am going to teach high school chemistry. Not having much experience in helping people learn, let alone teaching people, I thought being a learning assistant would provide me with great hands-on experience at teaching and working with students.
After finishing this semester, I spent some time reflecting on what being an LA meant to me. First and foremost I felt my job was to bridge the gap between the professor and the students. I thought of myself as someone who was in a mountain climbing expedition who had already climbed this mountain before. I’m not an expert like our paid climbing guide is and it’s not my job to make sure these people survive the climb, but I have done this before and my experience and know-how can be beneficial to first-time climbers in the group. The head climber might tell the group something as a whole and not everyone fully gets it and because of my experience, I can help clarify it for them and was recently in the same situation so I can relate and empathize. That’s what being an LA meant to me.
The biggest challenge I found as an LA was us being virtual. I only got to work with students in person one time so all the other times it was in a breakout room on zoom and I think that added a layer of separation. I had trouble connecting and establishing a report with the students I worked with. I had trouble getting people to participate over zoom and I wish I would have considered the difficulty of teaching over zoom and thought of ways to overcome them before class started. I had to adapt on the fly as the semester went on in trying to teach and help convey the content simply and clearly over zoom was very trying. I will say that I was able to reach a couple of students and clarify concepts for them and that satisfaction in the face of all these obstacles was immensely rewarding.
My biggest takeaway from this experience was confirming I want to be an educator. Seeing how a little bit of patience and attention can be a huge game-changer for a student. Presenting myself as someone who just wants to help you learn and we’re all in this together can have a huge impact on a student. I know that I was able to reach a couple of my students and I was able to witness a “lightbulb” type moment and man that feeling was pretty incredible. My biggest takeaway was that I love teaching and am excited for this journey I’m about to go on.
The last bit of useful information I can give you as a future LA is to get the most out of the Teach/Learn in STEM class on Tuesday night. Michael taught me so many things about learning that I had never considered before. I only wish I could have taken this class at the beginning of my college career because it would have resulted in me being a much better student. I am definitely a more informed student now. It really expanded my knowledge and I think even my capacity and receptivity for new ideas were greatly increased. I found a wealth of information and access to resources all dedicated to learning and teaching that to say it broadened my horizons would be a major understatement. No matter what you want to do after attaining your undergraduate degree I can guarantee this class will benefit you and help you in the future. If anything it will increase your awareness to a myriad of situations and topics that arise in day-to-day life. I cannot praise this class enough. I actually got more out of it and had a more rewarding experience in that class than I did teaching as an LA. It was truly an eye-opening class and I can’t emphasize enough how rewarding and informative it was. The science of learning and teaching science was one of my favorite classes I’ve taken and I was not expecting that.
Sincerely,
Travis
Dear Future LA,
The reason why I became an LA is because of my experience with chemistry. I remember being very stressed out after my first exam since I did not do as well as I expected. After the semester, I found a new love for chemistry and wanted to share this with others. Being an LA has meant a lot to me because it has really taught me how to get out of my comfort zone. The biggest challenge would have to be overcoming the imposter syndrome that I felt many times. I had to realize that I was good enough to do this. I did not realize how much of this I would have to overcome, but it really helped. The biggest takeaway from this experience as an LA would be all of the people I have met. It truly is a huge support system and a great opportunity to expand my knowledge of chemistry. It is a wonderful program that I believe will have amazing benefits for UA Little Rock!
Dear Future LA,
I wanted to become an LA because I wanted to help other students succeed and be there for guidance when they needed it the most. When I was a student in Mrs.Kattoum’s class, my learning assistant was so helpful in ways that they helped me work through problems that would be difficult for me to solve. Being an LA, for me, has meant being confident and keeping gaining confidence in anything you do. It has meant for me to be okay with making mistakes and learning from them and not everything I do is supposed to be perfect. The biggest challenge I wish I would have considered is to pull throughout the semester and finish off the semester with being an LA. But at the same time, I had to tell myself that it was okay to drop being an LA and focus on myself first and put myself first, which would be my biggest takeaway. One other takeaway would be that being an LA does not mean it is our job to teach the students every single concept, being an LA means to help them get through the class and make sure they are on the right track to making good grades. Overall I have seen growth in myself, as a person and how I am handling school after I stopped LAing. I did what was best for me which has most definitely helped me learn that sometimes stretching yourself too far can cause stress. But for the time that I was an LA for, I enjoyed it and would consider being an LA in the future.
Hello Future LA,
Welcome to the program!
I’m writing this to tell you a little about what you going to experience through the program, from my perspective of course. I started the program originally at the request of my advisor to work with her in class. After the first orientation, I wanted to continue to learn more about teaching. I will be teaching in my graduate role at UA Little Rock and wanted this instruction and experience before stepping into that role. Additionally, I am neurodivergent and I feel that with programs like this more students like me will succeed earlier on in STEM education.
Learning about different study methods and applications that were given meant a lot to me. The class for the program covers a lot of content on different methods looking at metacognition. The most important thing to me is that it teaches that each student is an individual and that understanding this is a must in education. The methods taught in class can be varied and adjusted for individual success. I appreciated that some of the assignments that let you pick a specific topic within the topic for you to cover in class. I feel that with the options given within content you can add as much additional learning as wanted or needed in your own learning process.
The most challenging aspect for me was for personal reasons. I had to attend class online and even with fantastic group members, I feel like being in-class setting could be more beneficial to someone like me. I also have problems with group coordination in projects and public speaking, those would be my two biggest challenges. My personal reasons conflicted with class responsibilities; I should have considered my time availability before starting the class. I couldn’t give as much as attention as I wanted to the content from class.
My biggest takeaway from this class is that there is a way to teach everyone to learn. That is, you take the time to see and understand what the student is going through you can find a way to help them. So, my biggest takeaway is that choosing not to do this is at a disadvantage as a teacher in properly educating your students. Everything learned in this class will be beneficial to you moving on as a student or an educator.
Enjoy the program!
Melanie
Dear Future LA,
There were two reason I chose to become an LA. One reason was so that I could help others struggling in their classes. I for sure know and understand the feeling of finding one class extremely difficult, it’s a feeling of hopelessness and feeling like no matter how hard you try nothing seems to work. That’s why I wanted to help because no one should ever feel that there hard work does not pay off in the end. The second reason I became an LA is so I could be able to reach out to people better. As an LA one of the basic requirements is to reach out to anyone and everyone in the class to make sure they understand the topic being discussed, and I can definitely say that being an LA has helped me be better at that, and for that I am grateful to the LA program for giving me the opportunity to be able to do that. The biggest challenge I had faced while being an LA is debating whether or not to step in when a student is talking too much. But you have to remember that as an LA your job is to make sure that the students are actually learning the material, so for that situation it is better to tip it off to the professor that someone is talking excessively if they have not already noticed it. For sure the biggest take away for me is getting a sneak peak into what its like being an instructor, and that they don’t choose to give us exams all on the same week because they want to, but because if they don’t give the exam then the class will fall behind. Just like us students the faculty also get extremely busy in there work too, so that is something I will carry with me from now on. One last pointer is to stay on top of everything. It is so important to do this because it can be very stressful if you fall behind especially as an LA, so my strongest recommendation is to make sure you have everything under control.
Shiraz
Dear Future LA,
I know it’s a popular response that someone wants to be a learning assistant because they want to help other students, but I genuinely mean it. When I was having trouble in chemistry class, other learning assistants would come over to me and check on me to make sure I was okay. It means a lot to me because I am teaching students new skills that will benefit them in the future. Because I am an introvert, communicating with students was the most difficult task, but I am now more comfortable chatting to classmates in class. The most important thing to remember as a learning assistant is that you never know what your students are going through in their personal lives, so be kind and encourage them to succeed. I’d like to express that anytime I hear a student is having difficulty in class, I used to relate my own experiences as a student and continually encourage them to study for the class and that it’s okay to make errors at first, as long as you learn from them.
Manpreet
Dear Future LA,
After being a learning assistant for one semester, I can tell you that although it can be intimidating at first, it is definitely worth your time and is an interesting experience. Whenever I was in your shoes, I had no interest in becoming an LA until my chemistry professor advised me to become one. I went to office hours a lot and was told that I was good at explaining concepts even when I was not sure about them (which was the majority of the time). I still didn’t think that I was good enough to help other students this way, but after talking to more people who convinced me otherwise, I thought I’d give it a try. I knew that it would be a good experience to break out of my shell and learn how to communicate with other students and faculty, which can be beneficial in the long run. What I learned from this semester is that being an LA is not just something that looks good on a resume (which is a perk), but it teaches you how to be a good mentor that other students can rely on. While you help them with the specific course you were assigned to, you also are available to give them general college advice from a student-student perspective, which can sometimes be more helpful than a faculty member who has a lot more on their plate. There can be some challenges with holding this position; for me, I was assigned to lead two workshops a week, and some days I simply was not in the mood to be in this leadership position. School burnout is real, and it can be hard to mask this and be motivating to other students. But, letting them know that they aren’t the only ones who face this gives more reassurance than you would imagine. Not only did the LA program teach me how to become a better person/student, but being an example and friend to other students was worthwhile. I hope you consider my experience to motivate you on your academic journey.
Sincerely,
Tabitha
Dear Future Learning Assistant,
If you’re reading this, you’re either looking to be an LA, have recently been accepted into the LA program, or you’re my professor grading this and hopefully appreciating the shoutout. Either way, I would like to share some pieces of advice and an anecdote about what the program has meant for me. Between entering the world of professionalism, meeting some of the most fascinating and optimistic friends, learning to incorporate self love and care into academia, and utilizing science to master different methods of communication; being a learning assistant means being introduced to an entirely new world of experiences and opportunities that cover so much more than could possibly be listed in the program description.
I want to start off the main content of this letter by getting my anecdote out of the way, specifically what made me jump at the opportunity to join this program and why I felt like I belonged. All throughout my life, I found a lot of gratification in assisting others in learning. Between being the oldest brother to two ambitious siblings, a personal tutor for my high school classmates, and study-session leader, I spent a lot of time teaching. In turn, I was able to master the content I taught and gain deep connections with my peers. This came especially in handy during college, when I made my first friends through study groups. Naturally, when I was first introduced to the LA program by my freshman biology professor, I saw myself in that position and jumped the gun to apply as soon as possible.
I should have been much more excited when I received my acceptance, but my strongest feeling at that time was one of anxiety. I was an official beam of biology support now, and everything I said about the material would be taken as fact. I felt like there was no room for mistakes, and I was selected because I was a master student before and the faculty believed I could do it again. I now admit that I actually knew very little about the LA program, and filled in my knowledge gaps with intimidating, and false, ideas on what I had to be to fit in. I quickly learned that not only were these unrealistic expectations I set for myself quite false, but that being a master of the material was only a fraction of what being an LA was, and it wasn’t even the hardest part either. The most important thing about being an LA is your ability to understand and fluently communicate complex subjects with your students from all scientific backgrounds. I personally underestimated how hard of a task this can be, but there’s a multitude of factors you must consider in every interaction. From picking up on a student’s nonverbal cues while being highly conscious of your own to appearing confident in the material but not too confident to the point of creating a power imbalance- there’s a lot to remember. This was especially difficult as an introvert, who didn’t really know how to talk to people in the first place. While this seems like a daunting task, and it is, your pedagogy class will be without a doubt your most essential resource. You learn about the science of teaching, which is an entirely new and fascinating perspective on how humans think.
I hope I didn’t scare you with all those challenges. The benefits of this program by far outweigh those hardships, and even those hardships all serve as opportunities (a word you will hear a lot, by the way) to grow as a person. Every single struggle or mistake you make gives rise to improvement, not only as a learning assistant but as someone facing challenges in life itself. It’s true that while being an LA is extremely beneficial to your peers and the university as a whole, the role also comes with its own set of benefits towards you as a person that I never anticipated or garnered without the LA program. Because the LA position is a unique one, you develop an entirely new perspective on learning and cognition, alongside improved people skills to accommodate it.
Before becoming an LA, I was quite socially withdrawn and afraid to talk to new people, as I viewed all people, including my classmates, as unpredictable and too much effort to work with unless I had to. My role as an LA and the pedagogy class I took with it introduced me to a way of truly understanding the actions of both myself and my peers on a scientific basis, which helped me immensely in forming communication strategies. I utilize much of what I have learned as an LA in my day-to-day life, and I doubt I would have gained that unique skill set anywhere else. Alongside the educational benefits, I met an extremely diverse, amazing group of people and formed deep connections just in a few months time: my fellow LA’s and staff on the learning assistant program. The people you will meet and work with are some of the kindest, most supportive, and passionate people I have met in college and are one of the largest reasons I look forward to continuing my work as an LA and looking back on past years so fondly.
Being an LA has meant serving as a beacon of hope and reliability to my peers who were all in my shoes not long ago. I use my role to not only assist in teaching them new, challenging content, but to connect with them from one student to another and allow them to feel heard in their struggles so that we can work through them without shame or misunderstandings. The biggest take away for me was how much potential everyone has to be successful in STEM, even if they may not believe it at first. As an LA in a required science course for non-majors, I encountered many students who had pessimistic views on biology, most hoping to just pass the class and be done with it for the rest of their lives. However, through encouragement, effort, and confidence building, I saw firsthand many students develop a love for science and open their minds to explore their curiosities about the world. The class I was a learning assistant in had created a judgment-free environment for students to ask any questions they wanted, and we had received questions ranging from students looking to improve their skills in the classroom to questions about advanced biological concepts they were personally interested in. I was fortunate to be able to answer many of them and share the same knowledge that got me so passionate about science. As a result, I saw not only improvement from students who arrived disinterested, but fascination with the concepts they were learning and a desire to explore them further. It sparked a sense of hope within me, as I was now sure that anyone could love science if given the proper resources and a positive outlook by those around them.
I believe the LA program will continue to make a positive impact on STEM education by stressing the importance of peer to peer connections and role models. I look forward to its future, and I want to thank the future LA reading this for continuing the legacy of the program and making a difference in the lives of your peers. Never forget the hope you inspire and potential you unlock.
Sincerely,
Cole
Dear Future LA,
First of all, I’d like to congratulate you for taking the opportunity to potentially be a guiding light for students very much like yourself. Being a leader is not an easy job so again, thanks for taking on the challenge. One of the main reasons why I chose to become an LA was to assist students in navigating through a course I had trouble with myself. It is tough at times being a college student trying to juggle classes and a seemingly dwindling social life. Been there and done that! Having had these experiences, both good and bad, I pride myself on sharing these inevitable college experiences so that they may help the next generation of learners. I’m sure you have had plenty of lessons yourself, I encourage you to use those as ammunition when guiding your future students. It has meant so much being an LA this semester with all the great connections I was able to make inside and out of the classroom. These connections could be beneficial for you in the future as you enter the real world. I’m sure you’ll cherish the experience just as much as I did. Although being an LA has so many benefits to you and the students you’ll likely be impacting, the role comes with a few challenges. These students are not in high school! College students are adults and demand to be treated as such. Be careful not to take the role too seriously and allow an over show of authority. They tend to not respond to this sort of classroom management style. Be yourself, try to relate to them on their level as much as possible as you were not long ago in their shoes. Do not take your role for granted, your peers as well as students will look to you for guidance. Be honest and fair, help wherever you can. One of my biggest flaws, I’m not ashamed to say, was thinking I knew exactly what to expect. Do not make this assumption! Students will come from all walks of life and from all age groups. Make sure to be sensitive to this fact as it is important to adapt your teaching style as needed. This may sometimes discourage people and make them assume the way they are instructing isn’t working, don’t let this consume you. It may not be for that particular student, stop and try to understand what it is they are struggling with and start from what they do know. You’ll find this intriguing, or at least I did!
Here’s to an awesome learning experience!
Welcome to a league of extraordinary Learners!
Justin
Dear Future LA,
My name is Mackenzie and I have spent the last semester as an LA for Ms. Kattoum’s fundamental chemistry course. If you were to ask me why I became an LA I would tell you it was because I want to be a teacher and I thought it would be a good experience, however deep down the true reason is because I was desperate for community. My college experience hasn’t been easy to say the least. Between COVID and transferring it seemed impossible for me to get involved and get connected with people and I really struggled because for a long time I felt alone. When Ms. Kattoum first emailed me about applying to be an LA I saw it as an opportunity to finally be involved on campus and meet people, but in all honesty it was totally out of my comfort zone and I almost didn’t apply. However, I was tired of feeling alone and knew I had to get involved, plus I love chemistry, so I said YOLO (#noregerts) and forced myself to fill out the form and here I am now with no regrets.
Being an LA has meant so much to me. One of the biggest things it has done is give me a purpose and community. Last fall I hated coming to campus because I felt like I had no purpose and I didn’t know anyone. Every morning it literally would take everything in me to get myself out of bed and to class on time. I actually showed up late to Ms. Kattoum’s class nearly every day, simply because I felt alone and hated being here. But as the wise Michael Scott once said, “well, well, how the turntables.” This semester the tables have turned because being an LA has made me feel as though I belong. I’ve been able to be a part of an amazing community with fellow LA’s but also with other students in my chemistry workshops. I have been forced outside of my comfort zone and it has allowed me to develop so many new friendships and connections with other individuals on campus. Through this I have also had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my fellow students and peers. There were a few times when a student from my workshop would send a really kind email telling me thanks, or a student who told me that a strategy I taught them helped them make a better grade on the test. There were also times when I was able to just sit in a room with students and listen to their concerns and struggles about chemistry or other things they had going on in their lives. These moments are what made being an LA worth it. Knowing that you are making a difference is such an incredible feeling and it’s what makes being an LA so amazing.
The biggest challenge I found as an LA was imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is so real and it is easy to feel like a fraud or like you’re not qualified or not good enough. That feeling becomes even more real when you have difficult situations where a student tells you that you don’t know what you are doing and essentially tells you every week that “once again” you are wrong and that they want out of your class, but it’s up to you to choose how to respond to the situation. You can choose to quit because you feel like you’re not qualified and you suck and you’re tired of nasty emails, or you can keep going and recognize the fact that you weren’t chosen as an LA because of your qualifications, but because you were someone that could help others be successful. It’s important to remember that you’re not supposed to know everything about chemistry (that’s what Ms. Kattoum is for) or even be able to answer every question a student asks, you just need to be open and willing to do whatever it takes to help others be successful in the journey they are on. I encourage you to view every challenge as an opportunity. Yes there will be times when being an LA isn’t the greatest thing ever, but in those moments look for the opportunities for growth and learning and try to find ways in which the situation is making you better. I faced quite a few challenges with students, however I found that every challenge taught me something and I now feel better prepared for my future as an educator because of it. Although challenging situations can and will arise, remember that you have amazing people in your corner backing you up and you will never have to go through anything alone. Just know that it is okay to ask for help and that doing so doesn’t make you a bad LA or any less capable.
My biggest takeaway from being an LA is that I am capable of more than I believe and more than what other people believe. There have been so many times in my life where I have been discounted and told I couldn’t do something because I wasn’t smart enough, or because I wasn’t extroverted enough, or because I was too small. There have also been times where I have believed those lies about myself and have lost out on opportunities because of it (for example I love chemistry and wanted to major in it, but I didn’t think I was smart enough so I didn’t). And honestly even as I was signing up to be an LA I didn’t believe that I would be a good LA or that I would be extroverted enough or that I would be able to lead a group of students on my own. Then when I found out that I was an LA for a workshop that fear only grew and I thought that I would screw the whole thing up and be the worst LA ever. But that didn’t happen and instead as the semester went on I began to grow and become more confident and a better learner and teacher. So if I could tell you anything it would be to always believe in yourself and know that you are capable of anything that you put your mind to. Never let someone tell you that you are not capable of doing something, and never let yourself believe that about you either. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and tell yourself that you can do it. Plus most times it works out better than you thought it would anyways.
The last thing I want to tell you is that you don’t have to be brilliant, know everything, be extremely outgoing, or have a perfect GPA to be a good LA, you just have to care. If you care genuinely about students and believe in yourself and want to make a difference in the lives of others then you are already an amazing LA and will do amazing things for this program.
Welcome to the party,
Mackenzie
PS: In case no one has told you, I believe in you and you are amazing! :)
Dear Future LA,
Welcome to the next step on your journey to becoming a leader and professional. I had wanted to become an LA because I enjoy seeing other people succeed. Seeing the joy on their face when they accomplish something they thought was beyond their grasp brings great satisfaction to my heart. Additionally, it is a moment of pride knowing that I helped in some way which allows me to share in their moment of triumph. That can be a difficult task as just peers with your fellow classmates, and this program allows you some credence in your offers of help. You will now have the freedom to assist without the feeling of embarrassment from the student – it makes them more receptive to the process and makes it that much more effective. This advantage is not foolproof as there are hurdles that will be in your path.
One of the things that I wish I’d known was the amount of time that you will devote to this program. It will be long classes, extra studying and time preparing for the class, and time to answer questions and grade some work afterwards. Your experience may vary, but from either being a workshop leader to an in-class LA, the way you will be utilized is dynamic and individual to the professor. You might only have 30 minutes a week working with the students. Or, you might have two 1-hour workshops each week. Knowing that might help you to understand the load you will be taking on.
Some students are going to be apprehensive to help. You have no knowledge of their unique backgrounds or challenges they have faced to make it to this point. It may just be part of their personality and capability. This can be a frustration for you as you may not be able to help as many students as you’d like. Maybe even some of the students that you pour so much time and effort into will not perform as well as you might hope. Don’t worry as this is a common concern in the teaching profession and is not necessarily a reflection of your performance.
Here now you have the introduction to what it means to be an educator. To be the person that helps to shape the world around you in the most positive way. You will see and experience the highs and lows of what it means to be the person responsible for the intellectual growth of your community. May this inspire you to take the leap and become one of those called to be Teachers and Professors. May this cultivate some sympathy for the teachers you work with now and those that look after your future children. Teaching has had a bad reputation in our society as most people will only understand the hardships put upon teachers: the funding, salary, angry students/parents, the politics of education. You will have the other half of the picture – the gratification of people that your efforts have helped. You can now make an educated decision on the career path you might not have ever considered.
Best of luck to you,
Anthony
Dear Future LA,
Before I share my experience as an LA, I want to give you my warmest welcome to the LA family. I decided to become a LA because I wanted to make a difference. My desire to help others attracted me to this program. As a first-generation minority female student, it was hard to find my niche in college. Through the LA program, I was able to surround myself with individuals with similar interests and people who believed in me. I was extremely grateful for the mentorship of Ms. Kattoum and Dr. Moore. This last run to the finish line was one of the hardest things in my life. However, with the constant support of my mentors and friends, I was able to make it to the finish line. Being in the LA class helped me gain insight into myself, my learning style, how I can teach others, and most importantly how I can effectively communicate. Being an LA has meant a lot to me. It means I was able to reach someone like myself. I was never a perfect A student and I had to work a lot harder to get the success I wanted. Through the LA program, I developed a growth mindset. In a way, it was my light in the darkest tunnel.
My greatest challenge as an LA that I wish I knew before joining the family was it is not guaranteed that you will match in the course you want to LA. However, that does not have to be a deal-breaker. As I was able to learn a lot about a field that I am not from. I was able to build a meaningful relationship with my instructor, teaching assistant, and students. Two students even thanked me personally on the last day of class.
I wouldn’t say I am leaving because you can’t ever leave your family. I am just moving to the next phase of my life. At heart, I will remain in LA. To me, an LA means a helping hand and wings for those that need to reach the finish line. My LA journey was very impactful in my life and I hope to utilize all the lessons I learned to enhance my life and reach my goals.
Some wisdom I would like to share with you is don’t stop even if you feel like everything is falling apart. There will come times when you will feel you cannot help someone but the key thing to take away is that you just cannot always make everyone happy. Some may thrive with your help and some may completely refuse your help. It doesn’t discredit you or mean you are worthless, it just means learning is a process and different for everyone.
Best,
Lovely LA
Dear Future LA,
This experience is something you will never forget. There are times were you might feel overwhelmed; maybe even feel like throwing in the towel; Don’t. There are a couple of things you should remember. You are not the professor; you may not know the answer right then and there and that is okay. Also remember that you are also a student, use that to your advantage. Students are more likely to open up knowing that you too were once them. Also you got it! Don’t question your ability or knowledge because you do know! Remember to get sleep and don’t be a caffeine Consumer like most of us are now. Remember to eat breakfast, eating breakfast helps. Also don’t let the students sweat. I was terrified when I first started; I would stutter and trip all over my words now I can present comfortably. This learning assistant Program is an opportunity for you to Step outside of the box and try something new. Be on time! Be prepared: Be diligent! Don’t ever let students make you feel like You can’t help them because they need it. Drink water. Love yourself and care for your students. Be supportive. Always give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Please go over material before the workshop because doing it the day of the workshop is something I wouldn’t recommend. Breathe in, Breathe out. Lastly SMILE. I became an LA because the LA’s in my class were so helpful that I wanted to give that favor back to new students. It has made my career path clearer than ever. Now that the semester is ending, There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that I helped students passed a required course that most of them needed.
sincerely Quetta :)
