I worked for two years as a mathematics Learning Assistant (LA) in the Resource Center for Math and Science (RCMS) at Agnes Scott College, from August 2017 through May 2019. As an LA, I supported students in math classes through office hours and workshops. I encouraged students to drop by my office hours with any and all questions they had about course content so that we could work through the problems together. In workshops, I solved problems relevant to what they were learning in class so they would have a more solid understanding of how to best tackle problems. 

By offering office hours and workshops, students in courses supported by LAs build a thorough understanding of the content while in class, while still having plenty of opportunities to practice the problems with guidance in the RCMS. Over the course of a semester, I would have a few students who came to my office hours regularly, and I’d see them develop their skills and confidence with math. Some students have even told me directly that they went out of their way to attend my office hours because my teaching was instrumental to their success in the course. The joy that I felt at being able to pay forward the support my teachers have given me has made me incredibly grateful for my time in the RCMS.