Diary of a History TA

Hi all, its Michelle your devoted teaching assistant!  It was great to meet  you on Wednesday and read your weekend postings.  I think this blogging site will be a great way to speed up the process of feeling comfortable in the class and getting to know each other.

As Dr. Schuster told you I will be helping all the students in her History 200 class with research and writing skills.  What you may not know is I also assist two other History 200 classes this semester.  Unfortunately, one class meets at the same time as Dr. Schuster's.   Although I have been known to be amazing, I have not figured out how to be in two places at once.  So as it stands now, I will not be attending this Wednesday's class but will be around the following week.  Also, I am getting my office this week and will let you know when and where I will hold office hours for 'one on one' help. 

A little about me....I love the beach, traveling (visited 12 foreign countries and 21 states) cooking, biking, movies, gardening, second-hand stores, all types of music, dancing, playing pool and cards.  I love fast cars (have a mustang and old corvette) and adore cats and dogs.   I spent 25 years working in the "corporate world" then finally decided to do something I really liked!

I am a life long History LOVER~ Dr. Dufour said I have HISTORY OCD (whatever that means).  I recently graduated from RIC summa cum laude (Bachelor's degree in History).  Now I am continuing my education in the History master's program at RIC as well.  So, I can relate to most of the challenges you are facing as a working student.

History 200 was the most important class I completed at RIC.  It not only helped me excel in the history program, it also helped me become a more critical thinker, concise writer, and vigilant researcher; all skills that compliment other disciplines and careers as well.


Important tips I learned early on:  Stay organized, focused and try not to fall behind.

One of my favorite quotes:
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.   Confucius

Ciao
MV