Shifting Domains
Some of you may know my previous role at Florida State involved working with student conduct. A role as a graduate assistant in the Dean of Students Department is what originally drew me to Florida State and continued experiences within the office is what sustained a nearly ten-year experience completing this work. I was drawn to student affairs work because of the opportunity to be a resource for students who were unfamiliar with the path or found themselves in situations foreign to the more positively known aspects of the collegiate experience. Tell me when was the last time you saw a college ad reference how often the institution adjudicates DUI cases? While those behaviors are addressed, we don't tend to emphasize how we accomplish that nor do we note the impact of adjudicating those cases and how they affect the community as a whole as well as the individual who is central to the conflict. Yet as a professional, it was important for me look at those moments as opportunities to making meaning of conflict, reflect on purpose, and help students identify their connection (if any) to the greater Florida State community. I will always cherish the conversations I had with students, the opportunities to teach stakeholders (e.g., parents, faculty, attorneys) about our mission, and the moments to collaborate with said stakeholders in building a beloved community of conscious citizens who are aware of the impact of their behavior in a past, present, and future sense.
Said more succinctly, I loved my career. The work exposed me to a multitude of colleagues whose friendship, peer mentorship, and willingness to collaborate allowed me to engage in practices I learned at my small private liberal arts college. The sense of community I developed at Furman and the challenge I received in applying lessons I learned as a student leader to my job were passed on to Florida State students who were eager to see how their extracurricular experiences could benefit them in the world after college. Students learned how to make meaning of their experiences instead of collecting a series of bullet points for a resume.
Yet, there was time for a change. The impetus for change initially came in Fall 2017 when I first started classes for the Ph.D program in Higher Education at Florida State. I was reminded of how much I enjoy being in the classroom, specifically in how I processed information and discussed topics in said space. I struggled with what felt like a push and pull dynamic between full-time employment and being a new student. I needed the opportunity to do my best and be at my best without feeling split apart. I also had to take inventory on my own personal needs and came to a conclusion that a change was necessary.
Since late June 2018, I joined the Division of Undergraduate Studies as a teaching assistant. I have learned a great deal regarding transfer support services, whether prior to the application process, orientation, first day of class, or final day of class. I am excited about learning more related to this population, and I hope to contribute to the University's efforts with this group. The dynamic this summer has been unique so I can't quite put a finger on a standard response on what the job is like. However, I can say it is refreshing to learn about this area with a clean slate, to help develop new functions that haven't been done before, and to explore student support from an academic lens.
I don't feel like I have betrayed my sense of purpose for working in this field by shifting from student affairs to academic affairs. I rather feel as if I have unlocked some hidden achievement, and I have a new domain to explore.
Said more succinctly, I loved my career. The work exposed me to a multitude of colleagues whose friendship, peer mentorship, and willingness to collaborate allowed me to engage in practices I learned at my small private liberal arts college. The sense of community I developed at Furman and the challenge I received in applying lessons I learned as a student leader to my job were passed on to Florida State students who were eager to see how their extracurricular experiences could benefit them in the world after college. Students learned how to make meaning of their experiences instead of collecting a series of bullet points for a resume.
Yet, there was time for a change. The impetus for change initially came in Fall 2017 when I first started classes for the Ph.D program in Higher Education at Florida State. I was reminded of how much I enjoy being in the classroom, specifically in how I processed information and discussed topics in said space. I struggled with what felt like a push and pull dynamic between full-time employment and being a new student. I needed the opportunity to do my best and be at my best without feeling split apart. I also had to take inventory on my own personal needs and came to a conclusion that a change was necessary.
Since late June 2018, I joined the Division of Undergraduate Studies as a teaching assistant. I have learned a great deal regarding transfer support services, whether prior to the application process, orientation, first day of class, or final day of class. I am excited about learning more related to this population, and I hope to contribute to the University's efforts with this group. The dynamic this summer has been unique so I can't quite put a finger on a standard response on what the job is like. However, I can say it is refreshing to learn about this area with a clean slate, to help develop new functions that haven't been done before, and to explore student support from an academic lens.
I don't feel like I have betrayed my sense of purpose for working in this field by shifting from student affairs to academic affairs. I rather feel as if I have unlocked some hidden achievement, and I have a new domain to explore.
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