Bryan Kelley: Cullis Wade Depot and Welcome Center - Week One

Activities:

• Familiarized myself with office environment and schedule
• Familiarized myself with Maroon VIP Handbook, course syllabus, and organizational constitution
• Met with Welcome Center Staff to discuss Practicum expectations, goals, and learning outcomes
• Shadowed a Maroon VIP through assorted tours at various locations across campus
• Performed a comprehensive campus tour

Reflection:

To give a bit of background, as I was completing paperwork and contemplating the idea of completing my practicum at the Cullis Wade Depot and Welcome Center, I was not fully sure about what to expect out of the experience. Through the process of choosing a practicum site, I was struggling with being decisive about what site I should approach to complete my practicum work at. As I spoke to my adviser, an interesting choice became an option; that choice being the welcome center. I had never really thought about a welcome center as being a practicum site, and to be honest had never really considered it as part of a student affairs division. Upon speaking to my adviser more, I came to find that I would be the first practicum student this site would ever have if I made the decision to pursue the option. After a bit of research and investigation as to what functions and responsibilities the office had, I decided to pursue the welcome center as my practicum site.

Needless to say, I could not be happier to have made the choice with this practicum site. Immediately upon beginning my hours at the site, I realized that I had made the correct choice. The staff in the office are open, accepting, and warm. More importantly, however, they are completely willing to allow me the freedom to seek out the experiences that will prove to be most beneficial to me as a professional. After having the initial conversation concerning my expectations and goals, we hit the ground running as far as work in concerned.

Upon starting to log hours in the welcome center, I was thrust into the daily routine and life. The first day included shadowing a tour, reading tour handbooks, rearranging furniture; you name it, I feel like I more than likely did it that day. The work was fully enjoyable, however, and I was more than happy to do it. Over the course of the day, and subsequent days following in the week, I began to realize that  with the support and experience of the office staff and the numerous unique experiences to be had at the office that this practicum is ultimately going to be of great benefit to me professionally.

In addition, it should be known that I am a people person. That really should not come as a surprise to many people considering I chose to pursue a career in the student affairs field. With that being said, the welcome center provides a wonderful opportunity to not only interact with students here at the university, but also potential students, community members, and visitors from all across the country. After having only worked for a week, I am amazed by the diversity of people that come to visit this university. This diversity includes people from far away states and cities to even people who have physical or mental needs. This first week has proven that Mississippi State University is the People's University and that all are welcome within our doors. Through this revelation, I really did come to appreciate the sharp need of a bright smile and a warm hello waiting for visitors at the welcome center and just how necessary the welcome center really is.