TA: Teaching Assistant

This past semester I taught a recitation for 18.01, MIT's version of single-variable calculus. Two days a week, I stood up in front of a classroom and looked at around 20-25 blank faces staring at me, waiting for me to start rambling about some sort of math or another. By far, this was the single most worthwhile thing I've done this semester. That's due to the fact that I gained a lot of confidence through giving these presentations. The first day I was literally so nervous, I was sweating and my face felt so flushed. I hope they didn't notice. I tried to not give it all away. By the end, I had prep-time down to 45 minutes before class; that was apparently enough for me to research the topic, find some good example problems, solve them, and create a handout.

I like to think that recitations were useful. I wonder though, how much can you really do as a teacher? Because in the end, it's the self-motivation that drives a student to the top of the class. I know this from my own classes and from my past successes and tough times. But I think that I have to believe that I helped, if only a little. If only I was able to get through to some of them, then I will have considered this a success for them.

But as for me, I would not trade this experience for anything. I'm glad I was able to teach them. I'm glad that I'm not afraid to stand in front of a group of strangers and just talk and work at the board. I hope that they had a good semester, as well. I wish my R11 students the best.