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What a Professor Learned By Becoming a Student Again

Octavio Paz

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My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student

by Rebekah Nathan

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	525 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	214 pages

I've been a professor for over 20 years. I've taught thousands of students and written dozens of articles and books about learning and teaching. But a few years ago, I decided to do something different. I decided to go back to school and become a student again.

I was curious about what it would be like to be on the other side of the desk. I wanted to experience what my students experienced. I wanted to learn from other professors. And I wanted to see if I could still learn new things.

So I enrolled in a master's program in education. I took classes on learning theory, curriculum design, and educational technology. I read hundreds of books and articles. And I wrote dozens of papers.

It was a challenging and rewarding experience. I learned a lot about myself, about learning, and about teaching. Here are some of the most important things I learned:

1. Learning is hard

I know this may seem obvious, but it's something that I had forgotten. As a professor, I was always the expert. I was the one who knew the answers. But when I became a student again, I realized that I didn't know as much as I thought I did. I had to work hard to learn new material. I had to struggle with difficult concepts. And I had to ask for help when I needed it.

This experience taught me that learning is not a passive activity. It requires effort and dedication. It also taught me that it's okay to not know everything. In fact, it's essential to be willing to admit that you don't know something if you want to learn.

2. Students are not all the same

This is another thing that I had forgotten. As a professor, I tended to think of my students as a group. I would develop lesson plans that I thought would work for everyone. But when I became a student again, I realized that students are all different. They have different learning styles, different interests, and different needs.

This experience taught me that it's important to get to know your students. It's important to understand their individual needs and to tailor your instruction accordingly. It's also important to be flexible and to be willing to adjust your lesson plans on the fly.

3. Teaching is hard

This is something that I had always known, but it's something that I never fully appreciated until I became a student again. Teaching is a complex and demanding profession. It requires a lot of knowledge, skills, and patience. And it's not always easy to get it right.

This experience taught me that teachers deserve a lot of respect. They work hard to create learning environments that are both challenging and supportive. They care about their students and they want them to succeed.

4. Humility is essential

This is the most important thing I learned from my experience as a student again. Humility is the ability to admit that you don't know everything. It's the ability to be open to new ideas and to be willing to learn from others. And it's the ability to accept criticism without becoming defensive.

Humility is essential for learning. It's also essential for teaching. And it's essential for life. If you want to be a successful learner, a successful teacher, or a successful person, you need to be humble.

My experience as a student again was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I learned a lot about myself, about learning, and about teaching. But the most important thing I learned was the importance of humility.

If you're ever feeling stuck in your life or in your career, I encourage you to consider going back to school and becoming a student again. It's a great way to learn new things, to challenge yourself, and to grow as a person.

My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student

by Rebekah Nathan

4.1 out of 5