My dear readers, you will never guess the new opportunity being presented to me this time. For the fall of my senior year at UWF, I have been tasked with leading a soil science lab. For context, I have been a teaching assistant all summer and knew I would be one in the fall as well. However, “assistant” normally means someone else is in charge. Well, not this time! I will actually have my own assistant in the lab. The reason for me teaching the lab is because I am one of two graduate students who have actually taken the class before, and the professor cannot teach both days. This, coupled with us having a small department, allowed our department chair to deem me the best option to teach the lab. While I am flattered, I have to say I was in utter shock when I found out I would be taking charge of the entire thing. Luckily, the professor and I have a good relationship with each other (and he understands I play softball which makes working with my schedule a lot easier). Mind you, I do not have any background whatsoever in education/teaching. But, the professor and I both determined this would be a fun learning experience that will work out in the long run (it just may take a lot of work).
When I called my parents and told them about what is ahead of me for the fall, they were just as surprised as I was. I made the comment that I may have “faked it ’till I made it” too hard, and gave my professors the impression that I was equipped and prepared to do something like teach a lab. That gave some good laughs, and while I am stressed for this new adventure, I will continue to “fake it ’till I make it” while learning my way around the other side of the classroom. Don’t worry, I will keep you all updated on how that goes!