I am a Front Desk Manager of Tutoring. I spend a few days in both the Engineering and Lied Library Lab. I serve two groups of people: students and the staff - tutors. For the students, I try to create a welcoming space, where students feel comfortable. Sometimes students feel intimidated to go to tutoring, but they shouldn’t feel that way. I’m the first face they see, or now, voice they hear. I give a lot of answers, try to help.
For the staff, I also give a lot of answers. With the tutoring being online, it’s a little more disconnected, so I try to make the tutors feel as if we still have a work family.
What has been challenging with tutoring virtually compared with in-person?
A lot of it is the disconnect. Humans learn from body language and looking at each other in the eye. Everyone should be aware of how this translates online -- especially when sometimes it’s only a voice. Showing that friendliness, not that we’re just here for a job, but how we can help is important. Even though it’s a challenge, we still want to let the students know we want to be there to help them.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m looking to join the field of civil engineering, specifically the structural engineering industry. Within five years, I want to come back to school and get my masters. Hopefully things will be back to normal by then. But I’d like to get work experience. I definitely can learn a lot from working in industry.
If you could give your younger self some advice, what would that be?
I think I can still take this presently, too -- recognize my skill set and accomplishments. Sometimes I have the feeling as if I don’t belong, a type of imposter syndrome, especially being in college and studying civil engineering. I would have told myself to be a little more confident. It would have opened more opportunities for me.
What was your greatest day on campus? And your toughest?
There’s so many days on campus...there was my toughest day that I actually remember as a great day. I didn’t plan ahead and had a lot of work to do for a lab. Two of my friends also had projects to work on so we sat in the library and stayed until it closed around midnight. Then we went and got some food and came back to the TBE lab until about five in the morning. We carpooled home and had class at 8 AM. But, it turned out to be such a great day, being with friends, having good discussions, although staying up late made us delirious by 4 am. It was kind of like, do you want coffee? And, then coming back with cookies.
Who is someone on campus that you would like to thank? Why?
Probably, my civil engineering classmates. I switched from mechanical engineering to civil engineering and everyone was so nice. When I switched, they were so welcoming. It made it easier to get through classes. I’ve made close friends.
What would you say is a silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic?
It’s made people more willing to say thanks and that they appreciate you. Professors thank us for coming to class and working on assignments. People reach out so see how we’re doing -- employers, advisors, students. Students will ask “how are you,” not “how’s the assignment.” People are more aware of other people and more friendly and compassionate.
What is something on your bucket list?
I’d love to go to a movie festival - I don’t even know which one - but just be in a different city around people who love movies.
What are your upcoming plans for the holidays?
My immediate family will all be together. There will be 10 of us, but we’ll have a million dishes. I’m attempting my first pie!
