What has been the most surprising aspect of your job?
The most surprising characteristic of my job is the different people and projects you have the chance to work with. I have had the chance to work in collaboration with the great staff of Sanger such as, Rachel, Ed and Pam. They are wonderful people that have given me opportunities that have made my college experience much more meaningful. I came in here to tutor, and now I am a part of several projects and programs. This has been my favorite job by far.
Tell us about a time you worked with a student (or group of students) and were particularly proud of the outcome. What happened? Why was it special?
I worked in drop-in tutoring (DIT) last semester for chemistry. I had a group of students that came in together struggling with o-chem. They initially came in because they were failing their homework and were in a panic before their exam. Throughout the semester they came to all my DIT shifts, and eventually they ended up with an A in the course. Even now I see them in Sanger and we say hi to each other. Not only did I feel proud about the outcome of their grades, but it’s nice to have that connection with people.
What do you think is the biggest myth about learning/studying in college?
The biggest myth about studying is that the amount of time determines your grade. Although there is a correlation, there are certain strategies that can be applied to help a student study more effectively. I had a student that was struggling in a class they were studying for hours a day. With a little adjustment in their habits and approach, they were getting much better results
Tell us about an academic challenge you encountered when you got to UT. How did you handle it? What advice would you give to someone in that same situation?
The greatest academic challenge I have faced here at UT was calculus my freshman year here. I barely understood pre-calc at my high school. Coming here, it seemed like everyone had taken calculus before and knew the material already. I was lost, which is what led me to discover the Sanger Learning Center. Having someone who had mastered the material work side by side with me, talking in a casual manner helped me comprehend the material. Now, the both of us are co-workers in the same subject and others. My advice would be to seek help when needed and make connections with people, you never know what other opportunities it might lead to.