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A few weeks ago I mentioned a job announcement that I had, and promised I would tell you all as soon as I could. Well, now that I’m a few weeks in, I thought I’d finally share with you all what my newest venture is: college professor!
I’ve consistently said that I would love to be able to have a job where I can counsel part time and teach part time, so while I’ve been counseling for awhile now, the teaching thing sort of just nagged at me in the back of my head, and I kept waiting for an opportunity to arise.
While I was out west visiting my brother last month, I checked my work email one day, and in that moment the course of the rest of 2015 changed up just a bit: I was offered a position to teach a course at a university nearby! I had a number of conversations with the head of the psych department there, and once the details got ironed out, I was set! I got the course textbook the day that I left for the bike trip to Mackinac Island and obviously didn’t have time to start prepping while on the trip, so by the time I sat down to think about the class, I had 12 days until my first day of class. Talk about a quick turn around!
I spent the week before classes coming up with a syllabus, trying to figure out what assignments and papers I wanted the class to complete, and trying to brush up on the content of the course! And somehow, I was able to pull it off!
Everyone needs a first day of school picture, right? This is the best I could do!
I’m in my third week of teaching now, and it has definitely been a great learning experience for me! I teach in a classroom that students call “the courtroom”, and it’s definitely a different environment than I’ve ever lectured or talked in before:
Needless to say- it’s been a LOT of extra work for me that I wasn’t expecting for the semester, as I’m writing the class lectures, tests, assignments, etc… from scratch! It’s especially difficult that I didn’t have the summer to work on it, and am just trying to stay a week or two ahead of where the class is currently at in lectures. It makes for lots of extra hours each week, and while some of that is stressful, it’s also been quite a bit of fun!
I just wanted to share this next big step for me with all of you. Hopefully it won’t change too much around here, but I’ll see how things go once the semester gets busier!
Now it’s your turn to share! Is there something that you’ve wanted to do for a number of years that you haven’t gotten the opportunity to try out yet?
SO EXCITING! I’m thrilled for your. You’re going to be awesome!!! (I know you already started so I’m sure you’re already doing awesome!)
Thanks Cassie!
Congratulations, Caroline!!! This is so exciting. As a fellow psychology professor, I know how much work goes into to prepping and lecturing each week. During my first year at OSU I was up at all hours of the night, working on lectures, assignments, exams, grading, etc. That initial prep work is crazy, but after you have all the materials it gets easier the next time you teach the class. Good luck this term!!! What class(es) are you teaching?
Wow, that room really does resemble a courtroom!
Thanks! Yes- the first time through is crazy, so I imagine it will feel easier coming into it the second time. If you have any great teaching tips, I’d love to hear them!
Sounds like a really interesting job–congrats!
Thanks so much!
What school are you at?