Ā鶹AV

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the blog! I hope that everyone has been staying warm with this weatherā€“ itā€™s horrible, I knowā€“and that we are progressing through the semester with little issue.

Iā€™ve been given the opportunity to be one of the Learning Assistants (LAs) for Anatomy & Physiology this semester. With this, Iā€™d like to thank Jeffrey Hunt, MBA, assistant director for the Tutoring and Academic Support Center, for being a great boss, human being, and lizard enthusiast (particularly chameleons). He does a lot to make sure a sometimes underutilized source is kept running smoothly.

*coughs* COME TO OFFICE HOURS *coughs*

I promise I won't bite.

My main goal as an LA is to be someone that people know they can come to. Hopefully with class-related things, but yeah, tell me about your weekend. Comment on something in the slideshow. Tell me that Iā€™m wrong about something because thatā€™s where intelligence really starts ā€“ by questioning. For my students, I genuinely want to try to get them more engaged in the class and learn things that they can take with them.

That being said, Iā€™m reeeeaaalllyyyy hoping that Iā€™ll be able to bring some of the experience that I get as an EMT into the classroom. Yā€™know, just to *spice* things up. This has given me some weird looks, but, hey man, Iā€™m trying out here.

I understand that Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) isnā€™t everyoneā€™s favorite thing. Itā€™s another class, more assignments, etc. etc. etc. The body is challenging to understand because while there is a ā€˜standard,ā€™ there are so many different, moving parts to it that it can become equally confusing as it is difficult.

Thatā€™s why Iā€™m here to help.

I get paid to be a nerd, which is possibly one of the best things ever. To be honest, the workload has been more than I originally thought. My section starts at 8 A.M., and those wake-ups can be a bit brutal ā€“ especially if Iā€™m coming off of a night shift as an EMT. Yet, itā€™s always worth it. I make worksheets, do review sessions, post some EMT stuff every now and then, and uh... yeah. Thatā€™s pretty much it. It might not sound like a lot, but it definitely keeps me busy.

(I just feign being in ā€œThe Devil Wears Pradaā€ and that Miranda Priestly is my boss. I think Jeff would do that excellently.)

Author, leaning over to whisper to her editor: ā€œDo not let Jeff find this article.ā€
Author, to her audience: ā€œPlease do not let Jeff find this article.ā€

Iā€™ve actually had a couple people from other sections reach out to ask if they could attend my office hours. Obviously, you can. Even if youā€™re not in A&P. Feel free to come over and talk science with me. Iā€™m sure weā€™ll have a very scientific conversation, even if we end up talking about other nerd stuff.

My job is to help my students learn, and maybe get them to chuckle at a terrible joke or two.

I hope that everyone has an excellent weekend, and that the next round of exams, quizzes, or snowy shenanigans arenā€™t too bad.

With peace, love, and peanut butter,
Beatrice