Teaching & Mentorship

My first quarter as a TA was both exciting and humbling. I quickly learned that explaining concepts I took for granted required breaking down my thinking into digestible steps.

I learned that effective teaching relies on constant interaction, using direct student feedback to develop my teaching style.

DSA brings together students with widely varying experience, some with years of coding, others writing their first program. Remembering my own struggles as a student, I approached office hours by normalizing confusion, celebrating small wins, and reinforcing that where you start doesn’t define your potential.

My first quarter as a lead TA gave me a unique perspective on the academic process. Designing exams and grading rubrics helped me see the other side of the classroom, giving me a clearer understanding of how course structure, assessments, and learning objectives fit together. Teaching and learning became two sides of the same coin.

Taking on additional responsibilities as a TA allowed me to engage more deeply with the course content and support students more effectively. I created supplemental resources, including assignment guides, and led a guest lecture. The lecture was successful not because it was perfect, but because I embraced teaching as a collaborative, iterative process.

Five quarters in, I'm still growing. Each student teaches me something new beyond teaching code like fostering growth mindsets, creating inclusive learning environments, and adapting my approach to meet diverse learning needs.