Activities:
-Interviewed individuals within the office to find out more
information about their specific duties
-Sent confirmation emails to individuals signed up for
Freshman 2 and Transfer 2 Orientation Sessions
-Developed activities for individuals at the leadership
conference to deepen their connections with each other
-Developed activities for orientation leaders to reflect on
their experiences during orientation sessions
-Contacted presidents of organizations to confirm or ask for
their participation in the organization fair during orientation sessions
-Edited the newly built website for the Office of Student
Life for grammatical errors
-Reviewed pictures from previous years in order to find ones
to enhance the website to make it aesthetically pleasing
Reflection:
I never realized how much I would learn working in the
Office of Student Life. First, the interviews helped me understand how the
office runs. Each person has a specific set of duties, although everyone
depends on each other. I automatically think of the quote “teamwork makes the
dream work” when I enter the office each day. Also, the path each person takes
to get to their current position is quite different. I really loved getting to
hear each individual story. I really feel as if I have become a part of the
team, though I am still learning each day.
I have done a great deal of planning for programs since I
have been a part of the Office of Student Life. Each group is different, and I
have to make sure that the activities I plan for them meet their needs. For
example, the orientation leaders have been working extremely hard for the last
two months getting ready for orientation sessions. Although I want them to really
reflect on their experiences, I also want to make the activities fun for them
as they are winding down. This will help them relax after working so hard. With
the leadership conference, however, I wanted to make sure that the activities I
had for them allowed for deep self-exploration. I really wanted them to reflect
on their life stories and connect with each other.
I really enjoyed getting to contact the organizations to ask
for their participation in the organization fair. I felt that calling them gave
the request a more personal touch, which I think is sometimes lost. With
technology being utilized so often, I feel that student affairs professionals
sometimes forget the importance of personal contact. Even when I sent out the
confirmation emails for orientation, I had to contact some individuals over the
phone because their email address would not work. Taking the extra step to get
in contact with the students is very important within student affairs. Even
within my assistantship, I try to take the extra step when scheduling tours for
prospective students. All students want to feel like they matter to the
institution they are attending or wish to attend. As a future student affairs
professional, I want to ensure that I take the extra steps necessary to make
the students feel as if I care about them.
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