Lauri's TA: Who could ask for more?

So I need to talk also about another wonderful job I had on campus. Being a TA for Lauri Haddock.

So I took her Humanities 101 class as a freshman and got an A. I loved the class, sat in the 3rd row in the middle every day and did really well. I never made a comment but one time when she talked about So You Think You Can Dance I finally raised my hand and told her I had the first three seasons on my DVR and I could bring in Sweet Dreams by Sabra and Neil (Youtube was not accessible on campus...for lame reasons). So I brought it in and felt super cool.

Fast-forward 1.5 years later, my fall semester at Freshman Academy and I'm assigned to Lauri's class. we began to meet with her before the semester because she was our adviser for University 101, etc. By the second or third meeting I finally got the guts up to say something about how I'd been in her class. And she said "I knew you looked familiar!" Anyone who has had Lauri knows she actually gets to know student names which is a feat for university professors. She even knows the names of those who don't comment. Amazingly. So I was her peer mentor and we got closer that year.

Then fast forward to when I decided to quit Freshman Academy. I didn't want to quit until I had another job secured so I emailed Lauri to ask how she would feel about me being her TA. I ended up quitting before I heard from her because I felt strongly that I had to. Faith! The very next day I heard from her saying she would love for me to be her TA! The Lord just needed me to show a little faith. But that was a scary 24 hours man.

So I started as her TA that Fall, the same Fall I started at the TMA office because I only was her TA for 10 hours a week, then at the office for the other 10 hours. It was perfect because I needed 20 hours a week but needed some flexibility, which is what TAing gives you.

Throughout my time with her, I have sat through her 101 course 7 times now. And I take notes every time. I sometimes feel like I have it memorized. But then she had me teach a few times when she left and I realized I definitely didn't have it memorized. But I'm fairly close. :)

Also throughout my time her, I didn't just learn humanities, I also learned about learning and life in general. We got to be pretty close and I love staying after class just to chat with her about life, etc. The moment I realized she liked me as a friend and not just a TA was when she said she had a plan for me. I would go to grad school so I would still be around when her son got back from his mission (which yes, means he is 4 years younger than me, at least) so I could marry him and then be her daughter in law. Probably not in the stars, but I loved knowing she really cared about me outside of campus.

The last time I saw her at the 101 final, she refused to say goodbye because she says we will see each other again. I agree. :) She goes to Western Europe every summer and I have already decided that since I'm a teacher with summers off, once I've survived my first year of teaching I will most definitely go to Europe with her (if I can afford it on a teacher's salary). But I shall definitely go with her at least once in my life. I must.