Activities
- Continued brainstorming possible bystander intervention training topics, statistics, and other information for fall fraternity training
- Met with site supervisor to discuss upcoming plans for the office
- Discussed how my site supervisor and I will stay in contact after I finish my practicum work
- Met with students in the office to discuss rush and ways in which I can help them prepare for upcoming events
- Researched fraternity and sorority life at other institutions and the initiatives they are implementing
Practice: Reflective
Insights
1.
As mentioned above, I spoke with my practicum
supervisor about how we will stay in contact following my practicum experience. I see my site supervisor as a mentor, and I
look forward to the ways in which he may be able to advise me in the future. As I reflect upon my practicum experience, I
can now understand how working with just once office can establish numerous
beneficial connections. My practicum has
shown me the importance of doing my best in every task I am given in my
graduate program, assistantship, practicum, and any other obligations I
have. Although I may feel that a task is
insignificant, graduate students are constantly being observed by student
affairs professionals, and those professionals may serve as a mentor and
resource later on.
2. Another lesson I learned was that, although I am
just a graduate student, I can still serve other students as a resource. Having lived the undergraduate experience, I
am now able to empathize with current undergraduate students and assist them as
they strive to be successful students while maintaining their involvement in
numerous organizations. This is
encouraging to me because I sometimes feel that I am unable to serve students
in my role as a graduate student. I have
been surprised and happy to realize that my practicum has given me
opportunities to mentor students who are similar to the type of student I was
as an undergraduate.
Practice: Application
of Course Readings
In Chapter 6 of the textbook, the author discusses
professional connections. I especially
relate to this chapter as I reflect upon the last two weeks. The chapter states that mentoring
relationships take time and effort. I
agree with this statement, and I am beginning to work to establish mentoring
relationships with a few individuals (both at Mississippi State and at other
institutions).
Theory: Reflective
Insights & Application of Course Readings
This week’s experiences remind me of the ACPA & NASPA (2010)
professional competency of student learning and development. My site supervisor realizes that I am a
professional, but he also understands that I am a student. He has done a great job at explaining things
when he feels that I may not understand what is happening in the office, and I
have appreciated the transparency with which he has led my practicum
experience. He also understands how to
promote learning and development within the students who work in the office and
are served by the office. While it would
be easy to just take on the majority of the tasks in the office, my site
supervisor allows his student workers to work with him on projects so that they
have an understanding of what the office does and how to set up future
events.
The theory that I was reminded of this week is Schlossberg’s
Transition Theory (2005). This theory reflects the things my site supervisor is doing, and I look forward to continuting to see him work with this theory.
References
ACPA & NASPA (2010). Professional Competency Areas for
Student Affairs Practitioners. Retrieved from:
https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Professional_Competencies.pdf.
Amey, M., & Reesor, L. (2009). Beginning your journey: A
guide for new professionals in student affairs (3rd Ed.). Washington, DC:
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Schlossberg, N. K. (2005). Counseling adults in transition: Linking practice with theory. Springer Publishing Company.
Jessi,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're officially done with your practicum! Congrats! In regards to your relationship between yourself and your site supervisor, how will you keep in contact and maintain that professional relationship within your last year here at Mississippi State? And further down your blog post, I noticed you threw in Schlossberg's Transition Theory. Can you elaborate on that some more? What concepts of the theory apply to what your supervisor does, and what is your supervisor doing that reflects that theory? Other than that, thanks for sharing your insights.
Sincerely,
Stephane Tchang