Understanding something is not the same as teaching it.

01

Organic Chemistry

Undergraduate Learning Assistant | 4 quarters

I have now spent four quarters helping teach organic chemistry, and it has become one of the experiences I have enjoyed most at UCSB. I originally became involved because I did well in the course, but I quickly realized that I genuinely liked helping other students understand it. During office hours and review sessions, I work through mechanisms, synthesis problems, and other difficult concepts with students. My favorite part is seeing someone come in completely stuck and eventually reach the point where the reasoning starts to make sense. Teaching for several quarters has also shown me how differently people learn and has pushed me to find multiple ways of explaining the same idea.

02

Human Physiology

Recent teaching experience

Teaching physiology has given me the chance to work with a subject that connects much more directly to medicine. I enjoy helping students understand how smaller cellular and molecular processes connect to what happens across an entire organ system. Like with organic chemistry, I try to focus on why something happens rather than having students memorize isolated facts. Although this is a newer teaching experience for me, it has reinforced how much I enjoy explaining science and helping other students become more confident with difficult material.