Teaching assistants learn more about themselves through instructing others

Matt Matt McGavick, ’17G, is a teaching assistant for earth and environmental science classes. He has held his position for two years and said it has made him grow as a student and as a geologist. (Vicky Tahos/BW Staff).

Teaching assistants are often liaisons between students and their professors, often clarifying material or teaching it in ways students can better understand.

While students can benefit from their impact, TAs also learn more about their studies and themselves by instructing others.

“I love teaching people,” said Jared Dashevsky, ’18. “I think the best way to learn is to teach.”

Dashevsky appreciates the mix of social and academics at Lehigh and decided becoming an organic chemistry peer leader would allow him to help others appreciate the harder classes he enjoyed. TAs in the organic chemistry department are called peer leaders.

A psychology major on the pre-med track, Dashevsky said he knew how challenging the classes could be, so when the organic chemistry department began the peer leader pilot this year he saw it as the perfect opportunity to teach others.

“I loved organic chemistry and did well in it, so I decided to sign up to be a peer leader to be able to help teach students like me,” Dashevsky said. “It’s a hard class, but when you’re showing a student how to do the problem and it clicks for them and their faces light up, it’s gratifying.”

His professor, Suzanne Fernandez, influenced Dashevsky to become a peer leader. He said she is one of the best professors he has had during his time at Lehigh.

“Once I become a doctor, I’d like to teach at a medical school or something along with practicing,” Dashevsky said.

Juan Palacio Moreno, ’16, ’17G, a TA in the political science department, never thought he would become a teaching assistant or end up in graduate school, especially at the same institution he completed his undergraduate degree.

“It’s bizarre having a teacher-student relationship and being the teacher, not the student,” Moreno said. “At first, it was daunting because you have so much responsibility for each student that you grade for.”

Moreno used his experience as an undergrad at Lehigh to figure out what kind of TA he wanted to be for his students. By commenting on their essays and exams and explaining why he gives particular grades, he hopes students can recognize the difference between a paper that earns an A- and one that warrants a B+.

“Sometimes, it’s nerve-wracking (being a teaching assistant), especially since my friends are in the class I sometimes lecture,” Moreno said.

Knowing he can’t show favoritism toward his friends, Moreno said it can get awkward when it comes to grading. Professors also trust Moreno to teach material well and accurately, and he is expected to lecture when professors cannot be in attendance.

Throughout his two semesters as a teaching assistant, Moreno has had the opportunity to learn alongside the students taking the class, making him more knowledgeable in the topic.

“After doing it for a year, I really have come to enjoy it,” Moreno said. “I can see myself going for a PhD and teaching later on in my career.”

Matt McGavick, ’17G, a TA for earth and environmental science, has held his position for two years and said it has made him grow as a student and as a geologist. Though he would not consider it memorable, he said the experience has taught him life lessons he can apply outside of graduate school.

McGavick said it was a “no-brainer” to come to Lehigh when he learned he wouldn’t have to pay tuition if he became a TA.

“I’ve become more confident when working with the students,” McGavick said. “Initially I was super nervous and quiet.”

McGavick said he does not see himself as a student anymore, but as a teacher.