A formal introduction to my blog...

I recently read an excellent article on NASPA's NetResults (http://www.naspa.org/membership/mem/nr/article.cfm?id=1630) that suggested reflective journaling of major points along a career timeline. With my annual evaluation around the corner, I figured what better time to begin this journey of self-reflection thus far, and to begin chronicling from this point forward.

I have been building a timeline of significant events in my professional career, and a future post will included outlining those key moments. For now, I start with a refreshed perspective on my current position, and some more concretely defined short-term and long-term goals to bring to this position, my department, and to the College in general. These goals will also be featured in a future post.

I've had several "false starts" with blogging in the last few months, so my first few posts are actually copied and re-posted from other blogs I (half-heartedly) maintained. Those blogs may have fallen apart, but these posts reflected significant moments for me that I feel are important to include in this blog.

This blog is timed just right, and I need to set the goal to maintain and update this for all my major events in my career, my personal life as it relates to my career, and my graduate education, all as I tread water through these "new professional" years.

Here's to the future!

"...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.