"...other duties as assigned."

I'm not really sure how to even approach this moment. In preparation for new midstart student move-ins, I just cleaned the toilet, shower, sink, and kitchen of a student apartment with one of my RAs.

I think this experience encapsulates much of my frustration with this school and its practices. As an RLC, I came to this profession to encourage student growth and development- all those "touchy feely" aspects of student affairs. In all seriousness- it is these aspects of student affairs that have driven me to get my foot in the door in this field and to pursue my Master's. These are the things about which I am passionate.

I did not sign up to do housekeeping.

This illuminates so much of what's wrong process-wise here; the room for growth and change is wide, and with as much freedom as our department has had to take things and run with them, there is still the same old political bullshit that binds up things like housekeeping, maintenance, and security at our apartment property. Frankly, as an employee, this is inexcusable.

And yet, I'm still here after a year. I understand this is work that needs to get done, and I don't want to come off as elitist to my peers and supervisor, but I'm sorry - scrubbing toilets and showers is not what I'm getting paid to do.

This last year has been a tumultuous one, and I keep telling myself that next year will be better- a new property, new students, and new grounds with which to explore and experiment with training, supervision, and programming. But sometimes, moments like these make it hard to look to the future with optimism.