This post marks the last update and final summary of my practicum experience with Shackouls Honors College. I have finished my 100 hours and I will now only be collaborating with the Honors College through my assistantship with Housing & Residence Life. I have learned a great deal from my experience working with the Honors College and this experience has been the highlight of my summer. Most of the valuable lessons I learned pertain to the importance of a positive relationship between academic and student affairs. Working with the Honors College this summer has given me a great deal of experience and understanding when it comes to the significant of this relationship and how to appropriately go about creating and maintaining it. I have quite enjoyed my time getting to know the staff of the Honors College and the colorful and bright student leaders who are so proud to be a part of the Honors College throughout their higher education experience. I am thankful to have been able to see firsthand the wonderful resources, opportunities, and support the Honors College provides its students. I feel so confident in my abilities as the Residence Director of their Living Learning Community because I can honestly say that I believe in all that they are trying to accomplish and the benefits each student will reap as a part of the community.
The reading for this week was quite relevant to the final week of this practicum experience as it was all about "Words of Wisdom" for growing student affairs professionals. Particular pieces of advice that I found particularly resonant throughout my practicum experience include being values driven, committing yourself and working hard, have broad shoulders and small tear ducts, and don't be afraid.
Being Values Driven:
The Honors College has a strong mission of being advocates and resources to help students achieve their personal learning goals. This is an aspect of their core principles that runs strong through the veins of each departmental initiative. I have been able to see the Honors College fight for the needs of their students and stand firm in their values in the face of challenges presented by other departments. I think this "stick to your guns" attitude that the Honors College takes on is very admirable and has taught me a lot about how important it is to find a job where you believe whole heartedly in the work you will be doing and where you will be surrounded by people who will advocate for the success and values that you collectively believe in.
Committing Yourself and Working Hard:
Though the Honors College is filled with hardworking faculty, staff, and students who are committed to the jobs they are set out to do - I mostly learned this lesson through all of the stress and hard work I personally put into my work and school during the month of June. Taking three June courses, completing all 100 hours of my practicum, all while still working quite heavily at my assistantship to through chairing the Residence Life Training Committee was probably the busiest and most stressed I have been to date. I learned a lot about what I can personally accomplish this summer. Even when I was pushed to my breaking point of stress I never broke down or even cried about how stressed I was, I got organized, worked hard, and pushed myself through. I got all A's in my summer courses, finished my practicum, and planned a training that is still in-progress and running smoothly. I'm pretty proud of all that I've accomplished this summer.
Have Broad Shoulders and Small Tear Ducts:
Though this could also relate to my stressful month of June, I think I learned a lot this summer about how important it is not to take everything so personally. I don't think it's necessary to get into specifics, but, some people aren't going to understand the role of a student affairs professional. Even though they might not mean to, in trying to understand your role (or just not even trying to understand at all) you might feel belittled or that they feel your job isn't important or necessary. I learned that it's important to have a strong sense of purpose in what you're doing and have internal confidence that what you're doing makes a difference. Not everyone is going to be gung-ho about student affairs and you just have to be okay with that. I read a quote somewhere that says "Act as if what you're doing makes a difference, it does." and I think that rings especially true for student affairs professionals. We know that what we're doing is important to student success, that's just going to have to be enough sometimes.
Don't Be Afraid
I know that I am on the verge of writing the longest blog post in history, but, I learned the importance of not being afraid this summer. Not being afraid to ask for help or to ask for less help. Not being afraid to ask for less work or to ask for more work. Not being afraid to pitch an idea that might challenge the way things have previously been done. Not being afraid to advocate for yourself and the needs of your students. I've just really come to see the importance of not being afraid especially as a student affairs professional. As advocates for the needs of our students, it's our responsibility to ask the tough questions, make the risky suggestion, or look like an idiot (so that the student's won't be afraid to).
Overall, this whole experience has been very validating as a future student affairs professional. I'm glad to have all of my experiences working with the Honors College in my tool belt.
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