Customize Your Weekly Pathways Content The first year spent away at college can feel like a make-or-break time in a student’s life. I didn’t apply to any clubs, or use any of the student resources offered to me, and I spent hours in my dorm doing nothing. Going from lecture hall after lecture hall, I felt unimportant, like I wasn’t anything more than a student ID number. However, there was one class where I could speak my mind and feel like my input was valued, and that was my first-year seminar class. It was a smaller class where everyone could have their voice heard if they were willing to share. I attended that class every chance I got throughout the entire semester because I felt like I was finally being seen. I was able to contribute a lot to the class, but I was one of the few students who taking part in engaging with the class. I didn’t gain much from taking the First-Year Seminar because of this. Every student should gain something from taking a First Year Seminar, whether it be resources, conversations, or just a general enjoyment of the class. Now, as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for First-Year Seminars, I feel fulfilled in this role because I can provide the students with the engagement that I lacked in my First-Year Seminar.
As a TA, I have the opportunity to help students navigate UMass and serve as a resource for them when questions arise. The First Year Seminars are a chance for students to voice their opinions and to discuss them with one another. The professor also gives me insight into ways to properly teach a classroom. I get to learn and teach simultaneously, which continuously makes me an even better TA. Alongside the work during class, there is a TA class to learn how to be a better instructor. I am working towards an education minor, and this is a great supplement to the classes I’ve been taking. This has given me the chance to better connect with the students and give them what they need out of this experience. I help facilitate the class through a series of icebreakers and presentations to help students familiarize themselves with campus resources, such as peer advising, and how to use online resources like Handshake and Navigate, as well as guide them through their academic issues.
As someone who has experienced not knowing where to access certain resources, we shouldn’t leave new students to have to figure it out on their own. Being a Teaching Assistant is a great opportunity to help younger students navigate a new environment, and facilitate self-reflection of where you started as a new student up to now. Your knowledge of UMass is beneficial to others looking to be more engaged on campus. You gain plenty of useful skills, like facilitation, public speaking, and working with professors who can give you a deeper understanding and create a working relationship with. Being a Teaching Assistant means leaving UMass better than you found it. If you’re a student who is eager to help first-year students, being a TA for a First-Year Seminar would be the perfect opportunity for you.
