My first encounter with an LA was in MAC 2311, where they assisted me in understanding the material that did not come easily to me. This was not the last course where I would grow to appreciate LAs. In BSC 2010, I was paired with the same LA all semester. This individual made such an impression on me, I got to learn new study habits which I still use in my other science courses today. She made herself available to me beyond her office hours and was there as a mentor. She truly inspired me to be a Learning Assistant and to be available and facilitate learning with other students.
My first semester as an LA, I was excited but unsure of what to expect with the role. I now LA for CHM 1045, and through my experience as an LA, I have become more outspoken and confident. One of the best experiences of being an LA is forming relationships with students–being able to hold office hours and consistently see students show up and want to improve warms my heart. It really brings me joy to see that what I am doing makes a difference in these students’ lives. For some of these students, this is the first science course they will take at Florida State. It has been so rewarding to encourage these students and see some of them decide that they want to go into healthcare. Overall, the LA program has been an incredible experience for me and played a big role in my time at Florida State.