tell us about your job

[Wack Jade]

What do you do?

Mathematics and Statistics Instructor at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Do you like it?

Sure, although it gets a little boring / depressing every now and then.

What makes you in particular well-suited or poorly-suited for your work?

I'm a fairly patient teacher, I'm younger than most other instructors so I think some of the students relate to me a little better, and I try to avoid 'fancy' mathematical explanations. And I use a lot of poker and baseball examples.

What kind of people do best in your work?

Teachers with experience who find a good balance between being everyone's best friend / actually being a good teacher.

What qualifications are necessary for people considering work in the same field as you?

An undergraduate degree in mathematics and some teaching experience.

What is a typical day like?

Wake up early (I teach an 8:00am Calculus I class), teach a few classes, office hours, exercise (usually ultimate frisbee in the afternoon), get home around 6:00pm, read / play video games / play poker until bed.

What kind of problems do you encounter?

Students who hate math. Students who are terrified of math. Students who hate me (luckily not too many). Other teachers complaining about everything.

Sorry, that's actually all I have time for at the moment. Oh yeah, and I get summers off. Sweet.