Alexander- Post 5- FGCU

Activities:
- Presented on behalf of Campus Rec at Orientation Breakout
- Coordinated Late Night with Campus Rec
- Met with a few professional staff to discuss their journey to Campus Rec
- Completed tour script

Reflection:

Hello once again,

I have accomplished so much this week, and conquered many challenges. At the start of the week I was told that I would be left to oversee the Late Night at Campus Rec, which is where the Students come out to our facilities and see what we have to offer. They are able to play basketball, sand volleyball, swim, and tour the facility. My first thought was, "You're kidding, right?" I quickly realized this was very real. I have to admit I was nervous but I've seen it done plenty of times (twice a week since I've been here) and was confident I had the ability to organize it successfully. As a new professional, this will probably be my biggest challenge, as I've mentioned before, being confident in my abilities. I had to make sure all the student employees were in place, make sure the equipment was ready to go, and make sure things were running smoothly and that the students were safe. Unfortunately, I had to make the tough decision to cancel the event because of the weather. Risk Management is very IMPORTANT, I've learned. I tried to wait it out because a lot of my student workers didn't live on campus and had to make special trips for the event and a few of them expressed they really needed the extra moment. I had to let them know it was out of my control and I had to do what was in the best interest of our students. They understood my reasoning and we were able to move forward.

The Student Staff and I

Another major accomplishment this week was having the opportunity to represent Campus Rec during the orientation breakout sessions by helping present along with the a few of the student staff workers. As I mentioned last week, I had been told that I would be presenting this information soon and this was the week. It was a major challenge trying to cram in all this information about a department that is so big and has so many different entities, everything from Intramural Sports to Outdoor Pursuits! I caught on and was able to really feel knowledgeable in the area of FGCU Campus Recreation. I work with an incredible student staff that made this a lot easier for me. They were very supportive and also looked to me for knowledge in some cases. This was something new, students asking me for help! They saw that I had some experience in this field and reached out to me for advice. I felt like a true professional.

One of my tasks from my supervisor was to arrange meeting times with each professional staff member and talk to them about their journeys to Campus Rec and their duties as a professional staff employee. I met with the Aquatics coordinator, fitness coordinator, sports club coordinator, and facilities coordinator. They all traveled very different roads to get to where they are. Some went the traditional route which is majoring in something recreational throughout college and graduate school, some just sort of ended up in the field. I was really able to pick their brains and ask questions concerning how to get to the next step. They were very insightful and reassured me everything comes in time and hard work. I also had the opportunity to talk with one of the student workers who is active in SGA. Student Government plays a major role in the funding of Campus Recreation budget. This idea was very new to me and offered me valuable knowledge in this area. 

I finished out the week with completing the tour script for the facility managers to follow when they give tours of the main facilities. I felt really good about this. I have a meeting with the Associate Director of Admissions this coming up week to discuss her role in the department. I'm so thankful my supervisor is giving me the opportunity to really explore my two main interests and allowing me to gain all lot of knowledge during my short stay here. This has been a great week and looking forward to completing my last full week. 

Until next time,

LeAnn