I'm teaching again this term -- a lab class on animal physiology, full of overachieving premed students. It's a bit of a contrast compared to some of the stuff I had to deal with last term, but then again, it could be because my incoming schpeel was a bit different. I don't think anyone is super prepared to teach the first time around; no matter how prepared I thought I was, it still got to be a bit nerve-racking to stand up in front of 20-some kids and go through everything you expect out of them.
Even though it's a lot smoother this time around, I still see some of the nervousness creeping in. I'm teaching two sections, and sometimes I feel a lot more prepared for the second lab group. I write a list of stuff I want to cover in every class, but I tend to rush through things in the first class and go a lot slower (and cover more info) in the second. I'm hoping it'll get better as the term progresses.
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I told my advisor in August that I was interested in mentoring an undergrad research assistant, and he's been forwarding all these emails he's been getting from assorted undergrads looking for lab positions. Since they're going to be primarily working with me, I get to interview them and send the ones I liked to my advisor.
It was a little weird being the interviewer and not the interviewee; I had a few questions written down, but it wasn't just recording their answers -- it was gauging their interest in terms of voice inflections and body language. But while I was sitting there observing them, I'm pretty sure the reverse is also true. Just felt a little surreal being the person looking for a helper, and not the one looking for a helper position.
Anyway, I forwarded the resumes of two students to my advisor. He'll be interviewing them later and I'll probably start mentoring soon. :)
