This past February, when we as a school were faced with the daunting task of course selection, I came across a question that many of my fellow senior (then junior) peers answered: would I, or would I not, apply to be a teacher’s aid?

Many students I know applied for the position because they plan on pursuing a career in teaching or are interested in a particular subject that the teacher they’re aiding for teaches. However, some students applied simply because they have a strong relationship with a particular teacher or are particularly talented in a specific course or class. Others, including myself at the time, only applied because they felt like they might need a small break in their hectic senior schedule.

Over the past three weeks, I’ve realized being a teacher’s aid is so much more than any of those things.

After receiving my schedule in early August, only to see a new teacher listed for who I would assist first semester, I was disappointed and a bit discouraged. I then noticed that it was common for teacher’s aids to be hesitant before the year started, as it was only natural to fear that there would be no chemistry between the teacher and the aid, making working together hard or even impossible. When I first stepped into that junior english class on the first day of school, I, like many of my peers, was able to relax.

Since the first day of school, my eyes have been opened to the class of 2018. I’ve been able to learn alongside them and english teacher Nicole Porter, who I’d like to think I get along with fairly well. Any doubt of being bored on days where I didn’t have any copies to make or quizzes to help grade diminished as I spent time with the class.

Being a teacher’s aid has given me the opportunity to see how other classes work. As a senior who has only taken AP english classes, I’ve never been able to witness grade level english. I’m now fascinated with the difference between this junior english class and AP Language and Composition.

Not only that, but being a teacher’s aid has allowed me to interact with students who aren’t primarily seniors. Part of me now wishes I had been able to do so more in my first three years of high school since I now understand the importance of cooperating with those both other and younger than you on a regular basis.

If I hadn’t handed that application into the counseling office that day at the end of the school year last year, I’m not sure if I’d have the same look on the rest of the school right now. Needless to say, being a teacher’s aid is worth a lot more than what most people think it is. So this is for the prospective aids: your bond with your favorite teacher might help you more than you think.