Learning to Teach

Name: Anonymous
 
Field: Biology
 
Job/position: Professor
 
How long have you been working in this field? 11 years
 
What kind of story would you like to share? Achievement story

Please share your story here:
I've always had aspirations in science and I pursued them with a single mindedness. What I did not consider after earning my degrees and starting a new tenure-track position, was teaching. My first year teaching wasn't a complete failure, but it was far from successful. I received complaints that I spoke too fast, tried to fit too much into a class period, and often failed to connect with my students. Several years later, my student evaluations are completely different. Over time, and with a lot of humility, I learned more about my students, what gets them excited, and the common mistakes teachers make. As a result, I now realize I learned to excel at a field I had never considered - my work in the classroom.
 
What do you wish you had known earlier during your career in science?
You will stumble often but that is not a problem. You only need to pick yourself up and keep going and you will make progress in your career.
 
Any final comments or advice for young scientists:
Combine your youthful dreams with pragmatism and you will go far. Don't expect to avoid failure - find a means to learn from it and get past it.

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