TAing again

I was talking to a fellow graduate student the other day and she luckily (for her) got one of the TA spots I had requested. She was explaining that she was upset at first, because intially she was assigned the same level course I have to TA and how it eats up so much time... 4 sections, plus 2 lectures, plus weekly meetings with the head instructor etc. Um yeah, I know. I have had that schedule for the last several semesters. This is her first time TAing and she is entering her third year, yet she gets the cake walk... Ok I sound a little bitter. She is a very sweet girl and I really like her, so I'm glad it was her and not someone else.

I just hate how in this system you get penalized for being a TA in general, in the sense that all students get evaluated the same regardless of RAships, yet when you TA you do have to balance a lot more and come in more or your research, the reason you are here wouldn't go anywhere. Sciencewomans' blog gave tips and said you should TA a little to give you experience but then move on, so your research gets the focus of your energy. I agree whole heartdly but alas we have not enough funding for me in my lab. This just makes me feel like I don't belong here. Maybe if I was smarter, or a better student I would have found a lab to support me, or gotten a fellowship... Yet even having TAed and taught in the summer over and over, I get stuck with my last pick for TAing, with the newest clueless faculty member! oye! blah. I also had a colleague say to me, well you are better at getting both done (research and TA stuff), when I TAed it was very difficult to get much in the lab done.... Um, so I should always have to TA because I CAN? It is hard for me to get stuff done too, but what choice do I have? Plus when faculty look at our pub record they just see a number, and go gee she is slow... without thinking about how over the last three years other students who haven't taught have had hundred of more hours in the lab.

ok in general I had a good week, sorry for the bitch fest!