From forming meaningful bonds with staff, getting assignments graded quickly, and nurturing a positive student community as role models to underclassmen, being a TA is truly a rewarding experience — and they tend to be the backbone of the Oxford community. November’s Senior Features spotlight these diligent seniors and their experiences being a teacher’s aide.

Tatiana Otieno (Mrs. Hale) — Something you’re looking forward to?

“I always look forward to the business expo. Especially this year with the 7th graders being 7th period, [my TA period, so] I get to really see everything [they do throughout] the year in class to prepare. And, it’s kind of nostalgic, when I did the business expo. It’s nice to see them prepare and see how it turns out. Because, it’s always a really rocky start. But it always [works] out really well.”

Audrey Martinez (Sra. Matić) —  Any fun experiences you’ve had so far as a TA? 

“[Sra. Matić] has these, they’re kind of like Legos, made out of wood, where you put [them] together to make flowers, and she has me do those [to] take them to teachers, because that’s her way of giving like a gift to them, so I do that sometimes.”

Eryn Riley (Ms. Somers) — Advice for underclassmen?

“You should always be open to asking upperclassmen for help. As a TA especially, if those kids [in the class I TA for] came up to me and asked me for help with something I wouldn’t mind at all. I think that’s really cool if you have the confidence to go and talk to someone who you’re not really comfortable with, or you just think that they have more experience and you ask them for something. I feel like we all need to be more comfortable asking for help, especially at this school. We all have kind of inflated egos, and we all kind of think we don’t need help when we do. So, [for] just underclassmen in general, you should be able to ask people for help when you need it.”

Don’t be afraid to ask TAs for help, as that role may belong to you in a year or two