I will graduate from my Master's programme in a week. I did exceptionally well and landed a TA position within the same department. I am truly humbled by the faith that my professors have put in me but I am a little anxious now.
I am 24 years old and I already know that most of the students I will be teaching are older than me. Moreover, I have already met a few of them earlier this year (while I was still a student). That is, they know me from the social and informal context of our student-mixer evening spent together. I am wondering how these two points put together would affect my authority in the classroom. What can I do to make sure that all the students are aware that I am no longer just a student? I am definitely okay with an informal relationship with the students because that is the norm in the department but I also do want to be taken seriously. What should I do?
I am just afraid that the students will feel like I am just one of them. And that is also perhaps okay as long it doesn't undermine my authority.
Thank you in advance for any advice.