A Career As A Student Assistant

Even as a young child, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to interact with people on a daily basis. This deep-rooted love for others originated from the values instilled in me as a child; values of loyalty, dedication, and compassion. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have discovered what is truly important in life and the impact I want to make in my community. I have found I have a strong desire to serve others, to help them and to make a tangible difference in their lives. Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to serve those in need in my community. Each year, I am involved in numerous service projects that bring food and clothing to low income families, as well as assist in the rebuilding and restoring of homes. Each Thanksgiving, I help collect food, organize donations, and distribute Thanksgiving meals to families who, otherwise, would go without. These service opportunities have taught me how to connect with individuals on a personal level, regardless of our differences in life experiences. I have learned the importance of service, human interaction, and most importantly, listening. My compassion for others, servant attitude, and ability to communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds will help me to succeed in graduate school, as well as allow me to become an exceptional

Student affairs is less about being a bottomless well of knowledge, rather it is about having genuine interactions with students who are looking to you to as a role model. If by the end of my practice I can leverage my experiences and understanding to make a positive impact on the world through my relationships with my students, I will consider myself a success.

This paper is separated into two parts that are connected. The first part will cover my beliefs about higher education focusing on my Student Affairs philosophy while integrating theories and work from current or previous successful Student Affairs professionals. The second part will also discuss my beliefs, foundation of my faith, my strengths, my challenges, my beliefs, my values, and my goals.

The Vision of Student Affairs is to empower USF students for lifelong success. Their mission is to cultivate student engagement,

Student affairs is charged with finding the resources needed to better services, programs, student learning experience, and the teaching of technology to students (Jones, et all, 2011, p.539). In 1890 LeBarron Russell Brigs was appointed dean of men, the first dean appointed. Briggs’s duties as the first dean of men was dealing with student issues. As colleges developed into more than just a place for students to learn the dean of men’s role had changed, the role became focused on helping students to become more rounded in not only education but, help them to become better citizens, and to teach students to have a better social and moral foundation. There are several major roles of student affairs, helping in retention of students, learning

For my twelve service hours, I decided to dedicate my time to one organization. That organization is known as College Mentors for Kids. College Mentors for Kids is a program specifically designed for elementary and college aged students. It is a nonprofit organization that works with over 2,000 students and mentors one day a week on a college campus. This program can be found throughout nine states and on 33 different college campuses. I am fortunate enough to be attending Ball State University, which is home to the largest chapter in the country for the program. The program’s main focus is to acknowledge the importance of higher education and career growth as you get older. There are a variety of ways the members of this organization accomplish

The work of student affairs professionals is varied and complex; every institution, student body, department, and unit brings its own needs and perspective. Yet the work of student affairs is vital to the success of these institutions and it’s students. It is for this reason that student affairs professionals must meet and strive to exceed in common competencies, for as Schuh, Jones, and Harper write “The effectiveness of any student affairs division or student services operation hinges on its people” (2011, p. 336). While the field of student affairs has varied emphasize on specific competencies for the purposes of this self-assessment the author of this paper will focus on: multiculturalism, leadership, staffing and supervision, teaching in the co-curriculum, counseling and helping skills, advising and consultation, conflict resolution, community development, and finally academic and student affairs partnerships.

What are the unique areas expertise that student affairs practitioners bring to the learning enterprise in the academy? Draw from your own experience.

My plans are to give back to my community by working as an occupational therapist at our local hospital, the Fairfax Community Hospital. My strengths are definitely housed in my communication skills, and I love being an aid to others. This career will fulfill my desire to encouragingly help individuals gain independence. One day when there was no school I spent my day job shadowing the occupational therapist at the Community Hospital in Fairfax. My interest of becoming an occupational therapist came from my mom. My mother is a nurse at the Family Medical Center in Rock Port, Missouri. My interest has never been medical, but my mother suggested this career for me because of my personality. Being an aid to others is my dream career. Helping one

My moment of epiphany came when I started working for Upstate Medical University’s Student Affair Department in their Student Success Center as an Office Manager. The Student Success Center focuses on underrepresented medical students through its CSTEP Program. As an Office Manager, I have had the pleasure with working with the medical students and upper faculty members. I have developed a camaraderie with a number of medical students. Many of the medical students come to me to converse about challenges or obstacles that they have had to encounter and/or hurdles they need to overcome. I truly believe my students come to me because I have a benevolent attitude and assiduously work ethic that they have observed. Although, I am not a counselor I appreciate that they feel comfortable to confide in me and these are extra responsibilities that I have embraced has a mentor and an advisor to my students. Then, I had this” aha moment,” that I should do more investment in myself and be a role model for these students as a Higher Education Administration Admission faculty member.

Student affairs educators can demonstrate their abilities to provide services to students through ACPA and NASPA’s professional competencies and standards expected of a student affairs professional. In addition, student affairs professionals should take on the role and responsibility of reconsidering learning from just the classroom to their daily lives. By utilizing NASPA and ACPA’s Learning Reconsidered 2, student affairs educators can evolve learning with comprehensive, holistic, and transformative elements, thus, integrating both academics and student

It was by accident that I became a student affairs professional. As an active member within a number of different organizations that work to improve the lives of others, I believe I have not only been a advocate and leader for change. My undergraduate experiences started in Elementary Education, and then I figured out that I wanted to be a Student Affairs Professional after I got actively involved at WKU by being able to be serve as the chapter President of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, the logistics chairs for MASTER Plan 2016, Greek Week 2016 Chair, and Dynamic Leadership Institute Facilitator. I have a passion for higher education, and I love how colleges are able to shape individuals to be the respected professionals that we strive

I once believed that I had plenty of time to figure out what I wanted to do in my career. Many of my peers and elders even mentioned I would change my mind several times before I finally figured it out. For the most part, that statement was right.

Working as a student assistant at my university's housing office provided me with the opportunity to exercise responsibility. My duties included distributing mail to all university dorms and working at the front desk. I gained my more fruitful experience through working at the front desk. Dealing with housing issues can often be distressing to students and parents. I learned how to work with customers, especially in times where those high emotions were projected towards me. This experience not only taught me customer service skills, but how to also stay calm, patient, and dutiful to the customer despite the

As with any occupation, professionals are expected to be knowledgeable in their field of expertise. It is no different for student affairs professionals because they are expected to be knowledgeable about the student experience. Over the years, the role of student affairs professionals has shifted its focus from administration to education. As a more diverse student body attends college, the concepts of student development and student learning continue to be their primary goals. Today, the core purpose of student affairs is to understand how students develop intellectually, psychosocially, and emotionally by inspiring core values such as caring, helping, equality, and social justice into the student’s environments where they can learn and be successful college scholars (Long, 2012).