Student Affairs Origin Story

My undergraduate college career started out like many others, unsure of what I truly wanted to do with the rest of my life.  Despite my uncertainty, I followed my interests in motivating individuals and creating a positive work environment by pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Behavior at The College of St. Scholastica (CSS).  The business courses I took were fascinating and I knew I was following the right path. However, during my first year I took a few psychology courses and found a passion in learning more about why humans do what they do.  Because of that, at the start of my sophomore year of college, I added a double major in Psychology. It was one of the best decisions I made in my college career. Not only was I able to learn about the business aspect of an organization, I could concurrently increase my understanding of why people in an organization behave in certain ways and how differing personalities can collaborate effectively to advance the vision and mission of a company.  It was at that point, I felt I was on the path towards a rewarding career in the business world. Unbeknownst to me, my career aspirations were about to change.

During the spring of my junior year, I was approached by one of my peers who worked in the Career Services department at CSS, about a job opportunity she thought I would be a good fit for.  Upon learning more about the position, Job Fair Prep Assistant, I was intrigued and submitted my application. After interviewing, I was offered the job.  In the role, I enjoyed helping students prepare for job and internship fairs, whether it be tips on how to create an effective elevator pitch or simply the expected dress attire and how they could utilize resources on campus to find the clothing they needed.  After the position came to an end, I was in awe of the career services department and all they do for students. When asked by the Director of Career Services to apply for another position for the upcoming year I eagerly pursued the Job Skills Assistant role.

My time spent working in Career Services at CSS was a turning point in my career aspirations.  I discovered how much I enjoyed helping students create and/or revise their cover letters and resumes and being able to be a positive and encouraging presence during their journey.  I was able to take my interest in learning more about what is involved in working in a career services department even further by becoming an intern for the Director of Career Services, Mary Anderson.  Mary was my mentor and provided me with opportunities for growth and development within the career services sector of student affairs.  I was able to learn valuable information during my time working with her.  In addition to collaborating with Mary, I was able to connect with the two other career counselors/employer relations staff members in the department, Andrea and Carrie.  They all provided me with a wealth of knowledge regarding the field of career services and their undeniable passion helped me find my niche.

Through my internship role, I was able to work on event planning and management, data collection and analysis, and attend local conferences with the opportunity to network with specialists in the field.  During my internship I helped develop, execute, and analyze the results of a resume review event that allowed the department to learn from a group of local professionals as to what areas were missing and what they were doing well in regards to educating students on what to include in a resume.  The information gathered during the event was then used to help update the Job Search Handbook career services provides to students. Working in the Career Services department at CSS made me realize my desire for helping students and being a part of their academic and professional journey. In order to pursue my passion, I knew obtaining my M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) was the next step on my path towards being able to make an impact on students, by assisting them during an exciting, yet nerve-racking time of their lives.

Through the experiences that led me to pursuing a M.S. in CCSD, I developed personal connections with a few student affairs staff members, all of whom, shaped my view and understanding of how I define student affairs.  While there are numerous areas of focus student affairs personnel work in, they all contain the core traits of seeking to collaborate with and guide students through the experiences, good or bad, they are facing throughout their college career.  I view student affairs as being all-encompassing with a holistic approach to student development.  Through the connection they build with college students, the resources they provide, and the safe space created, student affairs educators aid in the growth and development of college students.

Through my experiences, I found student affairs personnel to be passionate about creating an open and honest dialogue with the students they are assisting.  Through the conversations had, student affairs personnel work at helping students uncover their passions and potential.  However, guiding students through their college journey is more than just providing insight on how to navigate the unique paths each student is on, rather it entails actively listening, using what the student tells you, and at times rephrasing ideas in a way that leads students to realize the right path for themselves on their own.  I firmly believe the work of student affairs personnel is vital and comes from the innate desire to help others.  I am eager to become a professional in the field and be able to inspire and encourage growth and development within every student I help.  As I look ahead to the profession I am joining, I can’t help but think about the functional area that entices me and what I plan on doing to help drive change and growth.

I am most passionate about working in a career center setting and being able to help all students on their journey toward finding a rewarding career path.  I am familiar with being unsure of what I want to do in the future and know first-hand how guidance from dedicated career service personnel can make an impact on the trajectory of a student’s life.  In addition to assisting students, I want to help better a college or university through a career counselor position. The workforce is constantly changing, and I want to provide the most up-to-date interviewing and preparation information to students, so they can feel prepared and confident as they embark on their unique career paths.  By building a solid network of professional contacts, not only would I be able to assist students with industry specific information, I would be concurrently promoting the institution to local organizations.

While I desire to help every student that walks through the halls of the college/university I am at, an issue that challenges my goal is the fact that students aren’t always aware of the career center on campus and the resources they provide.  Like many students, initially I wasn’t aware of the career center at my college.  I was fortunate enough to begin working in the department my junior year.  However, in response to my own lack of awareness, I made it a priority to let others know about the wonderful and educational resources the career center provided.  During my time at SCSU and after as a student affairs professional who wants to work in a career center, I will do my best to promote and educate students regarding the career center on campus and the resources they provide.

A second key aspect of the issue regarding awareness, is who the target audience is.  I am determined to promote that the career center isn’t just for upperclassmen but can be a valuable resource for new students to the college/university scene.  As I have learned from my mentor at CSS, Mary, the earlier students start looking at creating their resume and professional online presence, whether it be through LinkedIn or Handshake, the better.  Each are aspects of the job search process that are constantly a work in progress.  A student’s resume will take time to create and meeting with a career counselor once, typically, won’t be enough.  Due to the process nature of resume creation/modification students need to start early, so they don’t miss out on opportunities once they are finally ready to begin the job search process.  Hosting on-campus promotion events and by word of mouth, are a few ways in which students will become familiar with the career center.  While I am passionate, I understand there are various challenges, besides awareness, to overcome in order to best serve the students of the college/university I end up working at.  However, I rest easy knowing there are other dedicated student affairs professionals who will be excited and able to help me drive change and growth within the field.

Since the spring semester of my junior year of undergraduate school, my passion for working in the student affairs field has grown.  I have had the privilege of interning for and being educated by mentors who are passionate about holistic student growth and development.  Through my experiences I have developed my own sense of what it means to be a Student Affairs professional and observed challenges the field faces.  I look forward to learning more about the field and how I can contribute to the growth and success of students.  While I am most interested in working in a career center at a college/university, I am keeping my mind open to new areas of interest that may develop during my time at SCSU.