Charger Blogger Spotlights Life as an Anatomy & Physiology Learning Assistant

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the blog! I hope that everyone has been staying warm with this weather– it’s horrible, I know–and that we are progressing through the semester with little issue.

I’ve been given the opportunity to be one of the Learning Assistants (LAs) for Anatomy & Physiology this semester. With this, I’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 I’m wrong about something because that’s where intelligence really starts – 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, I’m reeeeaaalllyyyy hoping that I’ll be able to bring some of the experience that I get as an EMT into the classroom. Y’know, just to *spice* things up. This has given me some weird looks, but, hey man, I’m trying out here.

I understand that Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) isn’t everyone’s favorite thing. It’s another class, more assignments, etc. etc. etc. The body is challenging to understand because while there is a ‘standard,’ there are so many different, moving parts to it that it can become equally confusing as it is difficult.

That’s why I’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 – especially if I’m coming off of a night shift as an EMT. Yet, it’s always worth it. I make worksheets, do review sessions, post some EMT stuff every now and then, and uh... yeah. That’s pretty much it. It might not sound like a lot, but it definitely keeps me busy.

(I just feign being in “The Devil Wears Prada” and that Miranda Priestly is my boss. I think Jeff would do that excellently.)

Author, leaning over to whisper to her editor: “Do not let Jeff find this article.”
Author, to her audience: “Please do not let Jeff find this article.”

I’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 you’re not in A&P. Feel free to come over and talk science with me. I’m sure we’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 aren’t too bad.

With peace, love, and peanut butter,
Beatrice