My time as a Learning Assistant has only increased my passion to be an academic advisor/coach. it has been the most rigorous of all my college advisory roles. I work with up to 15 student-athletes for at least one hour on a weekly basis to help them manage their coursework. I also serve as a content tutor providing in-depth analysis in a variety of political science courses. At the end of each session, I submit detailed reports to their academic advisors for documentation and planning purposes.

One of the best things about being a Learning Assistant is the relationships you build with your students. In my other positions, I rarely met with a student more than 3 times. The interactions were also shorter and less in-depth. As a learning assistant, I work with my students on a consistent basis. Some students request multiple sessions with me and a number of students I had in fall requested me for the spring as well. With this level of interaction, I have been able to see the students grow over time. Many tell me how helpful I am and often ask for my assistance with things outside of my job description.

I feel good knowing that my efforts can help someone else complete or learn something. Whether it is something small like creating folders to help them stay organized or somthing large like meeting twice a week for two weeks to help them with a research paper, I find immense joy in being able to use the knowledge I have to help others achieve their goals.

I am very happy I chose to work with ASSA during my senior year. Not only has it made me more excited about my chosen career path, but it also gave me the opportunity to utilize all the skills I learned as an educator and prepare me for the professional world after graduation.