[For those of you who don't know, the way a GA works is that I am employed by the university through our department. I will be working 20 hours a week teaching activity classes and assisting professors in exchange for a decent stipend, paid health insurance, and a tuition waiver. Basically, I do the grunt work but they pay for me to go to school, have insurance, and then give me some money to live. Not a bad deal!]
In our actual academic program I am the only girl within the first year graduate students. This was something I was not anticipating. I know some of the guys from undergrad and there are also a few guys from other colleges. There are 9 of us total, so I'm definitely out numbered. But I've been getting to know the new guys and they are really nice so I'm not to concerned. There are also three women first year grad students in the nutrition program so I am not the only girl in our classes this quarter, which is nice. I'm hoping to get to know them better and maybe make some new friends.
We've had three days of class total (I hate how we start on Wednesday), so I've had a small taste of what being a graduate student is like. I'm taking statistics which I'm not thrilled about, but luckily it is very geared towards exercise science so there are lots of applicable explanations/examples. I'm also taking advanced physiology, and to be honest, I'm scared! I took very little biology in undergrad and no chemistry, and after one lecture I feel so lost and confused. I am really hoping that the text and past notes help me clarify the jumble in my head, and the professors encouraged me to come chat if I need clarification. On a more positive note, our classes are very small and seminar structured so there is much more discussion and conversation during lecture which I actually really like. Not because I speak up much, lol, but so far someone else has always asked the questions I have going through my head.
I have about 100 students total between the four classes that I am teaching. This will definitely be a new experience for me. I've taught plenty of dance classes, but to kids under 18, and usually closer to the 3-5 age range. Now I have 100 students ranging from ages 18 to 30, two of which are my own peers in the grad program (no pressure, right?). I also know roughly 10 of my students from undergrad, so I have to find the happy medium between friend/acquaintance and instructor. The whole instructor process is going to be quite a challenge, but I'm very excited. I know this is going to give me great experience and help me grow in so many ways.
This has been a crazy week. I had to write syllabi, make a million photo copies, orient myself with the facilities, get keys to the buildings, and the list goes on and on. The past four days have been a blur and I'm now exhausted, and so thankful that it's finally Friday. Not that the work will stop because I have so much to learn about badminton and pickleball, lol. The only thing standing between me and the weekend is the lecture I have to teach to 60+ undergrads this afternoon
No pressure being responsible for the very first lecture of the quarter, right???
