Know Your Profs is an ongoing series of articles helping you get to know the instructors at Camosun College a bit better. Every issue we ask a different instructor the same 10 questions. Got someone you want to see interviewed? Email editor@nexusnewspaper.com and we’ll get on it.
This time around we caught up with chemistry instructor Larry Lee and talked about mentoring, how he won’t reveal his true birthday, and passing notes in class.
1: What do you teach and how long have you been a teacher at Camosun?
I have been at Camosun as a continuing faculty member since August 2006. Before that I was at UVic heading the Chemistry co-op program and taught as a term instructor at Camosun since 2002. I teach College Chemistry, general first-year Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
2: What do you personally get out of teaching?
It was a lifelong dream to be a teacher. I had really good relationships with my teachers and mentors. I get my satisfaction by seeing students benefiting from me. It’s even more satisfying to hear from my past students and hear them talk about their success stories. I hope to make a difference in a student learning experience.
3: What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
I am really approachable and hopefully can benefit from my abilities to serve as a mentor.
4: What’s one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
I hope students don’t know my actual age and my birthday. I always tell them that I was born on December 25, but it’s really a different day that I will keep as a secret.
5: What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
The best thing that ever happened is getting hired as a continuing faculty member. Camosun is one of the best employers, and this has become my second home. I am very comfortable at work as I really like the students and my colleagues
6: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
I was given Fisher 100 for CHEM 110 (before the new update). The classroom seated over 100 people, but I only had 30 students and few didn’t often show up. It’s disheartening to have an almost empty class.ĘOn top of this, the data screen covered the white board. I normally use both and it just threw me off completely. It was a comical juggling act that I hope will never, ever be repeated.
7: What do you see in the future of postsecondary education?
I hope that the government cutbacks will eventually stop. Each year, we are always faced with cutbacks. I hope that the government will reconsider how they finance postsecondary and give faculty an opportunity to serve students better with funding for space, instructional assistance, and capital funding.
8: What do you do to relax on the weekends?
I enjoy being with my wife and son. We do family things like head out to the park or have a play date with one of his friends.
9: What’s your favourite meal?
I love sushi, and can be found eating at Sen Zushi very often.
10: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
There are two. The first is smoking in public place. I sneeze too frequently that it’s sometimes hard for me to breathe. The other pet peeve is seeing students distracted with texting in a classroom. I even prefer if students pass notes around just like the good old days.