Oh no, loves. Far from it!
Today, Saturday, July 31st, is the final day of my ACUHO-I Summer Internship with the University of Georgia. I laughed, I cried, felt a lil' awkward and random at times, reminisced about some awesome days, and most importantly I grew tremendously during my experiences with Freshman College.
I will certainly miss all of the interns I've gotten to know and their stories about futures in Student Affairs or elsewhere. I will of course miss the Pro Staffers and Grad Staffers in Housing who always made me laugh during lunch, dinner, or while watching a few episodes of True Blood. I will definitely miss my quick ability to learn the UGA Campus Bus System. East-West, AG Hill, and Russell Hall lines are my new besties when it comes to getting to where I need to be at UGA. I will miss the in depth and developing conversations with many of my new mentors, colleagues, and friends in Res Life who encourage me to do great things, be myself, and continue to learn all there is to learn in becoming a great Student Affairs professional.
As my supervisor reminded me, "All good things must come to an end." Indeed my life and times as a Bulldog for a summer was a good thing. I got a chance to sample UGA and the Athens area, take many a trip to Atlanta, and gauge where I might be if I were hired to join the department. UGA is definitely on my list of potential schools for entry-level positions during the 2011 job search.
I know I will have lots more to say in detail, but I shall save that for another post in the near future. Thanks for reading and keeping up with my posts. Have a fun and safe rest of the summer!!! Ta! (^_^)
~Steven
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
What. And another one... (^_^)
Hi friends!
Wow! I still can't believe that my life and times in Athens, GA is almost coming to a close. It's like a week and a half left, yet still so much to do. LOL!
Lately, I was able to poke my head in some training sessions with the new graduate student staff in Housing. At UGA, they are called "Graduate Residents", compared to our title at UF as "Graduate Hall Directors". (Not sure if I talked about that before, but I like to repeat myself for clarity's sake. *smile*) Interestingly enough, one of the Graduate Residents, or GRs for short, actually came from my hometown of Hopkins, SC and almost went to the same high school as me! We both went insane with how uncanny that was! Trust, she will be a new friend to keep in touch with for a long time to come! Plus, she may be interested in doing an internship with us at UF next summer as part of her grad program. Making connections! Excitement!
And now for your programming update! ("New Flash" music plays in background.) I went cool riving tubing for the first time and loved it! It was just what I really needed from a long few weeks of programming. Lazily floating down the Chattahoochee River in Helen, GA. Ah.....relaxing. Made friends with many of the FCSE students and learned a lot about how ambitious these students really are. One student is actually getting ready for lab work and research for the Genetics program, which is usually reserved for Sophomore and Junior students! Last night, we enjoyed an ol' fashioned movie night at the Tate Student Center, similar to our Reitz Union at UF, and saw "Death at a Funeral". Hi-larious movie! The only things left to do for programming is the "Flashback Dance Party", "UGA Jeopardy", "Moonlite Breakfast", and "Anti-Stress Nite". Sigh. It's all ending so fast.
I am also pretty excited that my supervisor, last year's FCSE intern, and I may be presenting the FCSE program at this year's ACPA and NASPA conferences! I almost fell to the floor in excitement when I was first asked to help with the presentation! (And of course I said, "YES!") More details about this later and during the next semester!
I plan to return home for a few days before I return to UF for GHD Training. Need some down time at home, see some familiar faces, and get a flat screen TV from my mom. According to her, it will make moving and transportation a lot easier. As they say, "Mother knows best!" (^_^). Let's just hope I don't take forever with getting my apartment situated. I still had some unpacked boxes in November last year. LOL!
Have fun, folks! I shall see you in my next post. Hopefully, I will have my internship pics in online album form by that time. Ugh. I never take this long with pics.....usually. LOL!
Wow! I still can't believe that my life and times in Athens, GA is almost coming to a close. It's like a week and a half left, yet still so much to do. LOL!
Lately, I was able to poke my head in some training sessions with the new graduate student staff in Housing. At UGA, they are called "Graduate Residents", compared to our title at UF as "Graduate Hall Directors". (Not sure if I talked about that before, but I like to repeat myself for clarity's sake. *smile*) Interestingly enough, one of the Graduate Residents, or GRs for short, actually came from my hometown of Hopkins, SC and almost went to the same high school as me! We both went insane with how uncanny that was! Trust, she will be a new friend to keep in touch with for a long time to come! Plus, she may be interested in doing an internship with us at UF next summer as part of her grad program. Making connections! Excitement!
And now for your programming update! ("New Flash" music plays in background.) I went cool riving tubing for the first time and loved it! It was just what I really needed from a long few weeks of programming. Lazily floating down the Chattahoochee River in Helen, GA. Ah.....relaxing. Made friends with many of the FCSE students and learned a lot about how ambitious these students really are. One student is actually getting ready for lab work and research for the Genetics program, which is usually reserved for Sophomore and Junior students! Last night, we enjoyed an ol' fashioned movie night at the Tate Student Center, similar to our Reitz Union at UF, and saw "Death at a Funeral". Hi-larious movie! The only things left to do for programming is the "Flashback Dance Party", "UGA Jeopardy", "Moonlite Breakfast", and "Anti-Stress Nite". Sigh. It's all ending so fast.
I am also pretty excited that my supervisor, last year's FCSE intern, and I may be presenting the FCSE program at this year's ACPA and NASPA conferences! I almost fell to the floor in excitement when I was first asked to help with the presentation! (And of course I said, "YES!") More details about this later and during the next semester!
I plan to return home for a few days before I return to UF for GHD Training. Need some down time at home, see some familiar faces, and get a flat screen TV from my mom. According to her, it will make moving and transportation a lot easier. As they say, "Mother knows best!" (^_^). Let's just hope I don't take forever with getting my apartment situated. I still had some unpacked boxes in November last year. LOL!
Have fun, folks! I shall see you in my next post. Hopefully, I will have my internship pics in online album form by that time. Ugh. I never take this long with pics.....usually. LOL!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Plot Thickens...
Hi friends!
Where we first left off, I was enjoying my 23RD BIRTHDAY AT UGA!!! I was very lucky to have an intimate group of colleagues and friends celebrate with me last weekend. On top of implementing the "Bulldog Carnival", I also received some birthday wishes and hugs from some of the Freshman College students. They were really just happy to see me in my funny birthday hat that I purchased from Party City. LOL!
Anyhoo, I just finished working with Professional Staff training here at UGA. (What???!!! You're working there professionally, Steven? Already???!!! You haven't even finished your Masters yet!!!) I know. I work fast. LOL! Seriously, I really had time for professional development on my hands and decided to spend it working with the Res Life Pro Staff here during their training sessions. We engaged in everything from diversity and communication, to crisis management and multiple opportunities for staff bonding throughout our time together. I really learned a lot about myself in association with the UGA Res Life Pro Staff, as well as learning a lot about some of the UGA Res Life Pro Staff themselves. This opportunity really reinforced how much UGA as a campus may really be a fit for me as one of my top entry-level position endeavors, but also a fit with the full staff in UGA Res Life. Excitement!
What really threw me for a loop was that I had ANOTHER "professional networking run-in"! The person leading many of our sessions was Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington of the Washington Consulting Group. Check out his website here: http://www.washingtonconsultinggroup.us/. We actually met before during the Maryland-College Park social at NASPA 2010 in Chicago, IL. We had a small conversation about the Student Affairs doctoral program at the university and his involvement in the Student Affairs profession. He is a great colleague and an amazing person. Can't wait to run into him again and continue our conversations.
At the moment, I'm kinda working on joining their Grad Staff training sessions and parts of their RA Staff training sessions, as well. Of course, I'm not forgetting about my primary duties as an ACUHO-I summer intern and my agreed upon responsibilities with the department. I just want to experience EVERYTHING here! ALL FUN STUFF!!! (^_^)
Well, that's enough of an update for now. Will be back later this week or next week with an update on my first tubing experience in Helen, GA. Ooooooooo! (^_^)
~Steven
Where we first left off, I was enjoying my 23RD BIRTHDAY AT UGA!!! I was very lucky to have an intimate group of colleagues and friends celebrate with me last weekend. On top of implementing the "Bulldog Carnival", I also received some birthday wishes and hugs from some of the Freshman College students. They were really just happy to see me in my funny birthday hat that I purchased from Party City. LOL!
Anyhoo, I just finished working with Professional Staff training here at UGA. (What???!!! You're working there professionally, Steven? Already???!!! You haven't even finished your Masters yet!!!) I know. I work fast. LOL! Seriously, I really had time for professional development on my hands and decided to spend it working with the Res Life Pro Staff here during their training sessions. We engaged in everything from diversity and communication, to crisis management and multiple opportunities for staff bonding throughout our time together. I really learned a lot about myself in association with the UGA Res Life Pro Staff, as well as learning a lot about some of the UGA Res Life Pro Staff themselves. This opportunity really reinforced how much UGA as a campus may really be a fit for me as one of my top entry-level position endeavors, but also a fit with the full staff in UGA Res Life. Excitement!
What really threw me for a loop was that I had ANOTHER "professional networking run-in"! The person leading many of our sessions was Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington of the Washington Consulting Group. Check out his website here: http://www.washingtonconsultinggroup.us/. We actually met before during the Maryland-College Park social at NASPA 2010 in Chicago, IL. We had a small conversation about the Student Affairs doctoral program at the university and his involvement in the Student Affairs profession. He is a great colleague and an amazing person. Can't wait to run into him again and continue our conversations.
At the moment, I'm kinda working on joining their Grad Staff training sessions and parts of their RA Staff training sessions, as well. Of course, I'm not forgetting about my primary duties as an ACUHO-I summer intern and my agreed upon responsibilities with the department. I just want to experience EVERYTHING here! ALL FUN STUFF!!! (^_^)
Well, that's enough of an update for now. Will be back later this week or next week with an update on my first tubing experience in Helen, GA. Ooooooooo! (^_^)
~Steven
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me!!!
Hi friends!
It is 12:35am where I am on Saturday, July 10th. Today is my BIRTHDAY!!! Yay! (That's why I waited a lil' longer for this post. So I can add it on the day of my birth.)
Now, on to business. As you know my social programming is well underway and from what I could see, the Freshman College residents and student staff love my programming ideas so far. Even the little details. Take for example "Dawg-O", a Bingo tournament where we gave away UGA merchandise as prizes and the residents had to either bark or yell "Dawg-O" to be recognized. An RA helping with the program hugged me twice after finding out I purchased cheesecake and brownies as snacks for the program. Two of her favorite desserts, I believe. I was really glad I made a good call for that, because I was aiming for ordering chicken fingers weeks ago but changed my mind.
Today, July 10th (my birthday...*ahem*), is a very busy day for me. I'm working on running the "Bulldog Carnival", the next social program for Freshman College, and we start set-up at 12 noon. Note that this is a real carnival with rides, snack machines, and just about everything in between. Excitement! So I'm pretty much working on my birthday, but have plans to meet with other UGA colleagues and have dinner and fun times in Athens to celebrate after work is done. My supervisor is even treating me to a meal somewhere.
On a different note, I'm allowed to join the UGA Res Life professionals during their training time for the new academic year. This is a REAL treat for me! I'm getting the chance to interact with the new professionals in the department, learn about what's focused on/talked about during UGA's professional training time, and continue to have more engaging conversations with the professional staff members.
You know things are winding down during your summer internship if your supervisor and colleagues from your institution start emailing you about Fall training and moving back for the new semester of classes. It is indeed almost time to head back and see some wicked awesome folks again. GHD Training is SO gonna rock this year. Not just because I and two other colleagues are presenting Student Development Theory to the GHDs, but we get to meet new GHDs and RLCs and show them the RLE ropes.
Well, it's 1am now. I should probably get back to sleep so I can be fully rested for the "Bulldog Carnival." TTFN! Ta ta for now!
~Steven
It is 12:35am where I am on Saturday, July 10th. Today is my BIRTHDAY!!! Yay! (That's why I waited a lil' longer for this post. So I can add it on the day of my birth.)
Now, on to business. As you know my social programming is well underway and from what I could see, the Freshman College residents and student staff love my programming ideas so far. Even the little details. Take for example "Dawg-O", a Bingo tournament where we gave away UGA merchandise as prizes and the residents had to either bark or yell "Dawg-O" to be recognized. An RA helping with the program hugged me twice after finding out I purchased cheesecake and brownies as snacks for the program. Two of her favorite desserts, I believe. I was really glad I made a good call for that, because I was aiming for ordering chicken fingers weeks ago but changed my mind.
Today, July 10th (my birthday...*ahem*), is a very busy day for me. I'm working on running the "Bulldog Carnival", the next social program for Freshman College, and we start set-up at 12 noon. Note that this is a real carnival with rides, snack machines, and just about everything in between. Excitement! So I'm pretty much working on my birthday, but have plans to meet with other UGA colleagues and have dinner and fun times in Athens to celebrate after work is done. My supervisor is even treating me to a meal somewhere.
On a different note, I'm allowed to join the UGA Res Life professionals during their training time for the new academic year. This is a REAL treat for me! I'm getting the chance to interact with the new professionals in the department, learn about what's focused on/talked about during UGA's professional training time, and continue to have more engaging conversations with the professional staff members.
You know things are winding down during your summer internship if your supervisor and colleagues from your institution start emailing you about Fall training and moving back for the new semester of classes. It is indeed almost time to head back and see some wicked awesome folks again. GHD Training is SO gonna rock this year. Not just because I and two other colleagues are presenting Student Development Theory to the GHDs, but we get to meet new GHDs and RLCs and show them the RLE ropes.
Well, it's 1am now. I should probably get back to sleep so I can be fully rested for the "Bulldog Carnival." TTFN! Ta ta for now!
~Steven
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Real Fun Begins
Whoo hoo!!! My first program has come and gone!
Last night the Freshman College and I hosted an "Italian Ice Kick-Off" for the students and staff members in the program. It was a way of us saying, "Welcome to Freshman College! We hope you enjoyed your first day of classes. Here's a special treat to officially welcome you....and also to calm the nerves a little." You see, Freshman College is not so similar to other summer programs of its type. Most either focus on the academic preparation side of college transition, while others focus on the social/developmental piece. Well, Freshman College combines these two aspects for one holistic experience that I'm proud to be a part of. More or less, it's like my class conversations about Student and Academic Affairs working together for the development and success of our college students. Pretty cool seeing it unfold before me!
Tomorrow (Happy 4th of July!), I have the pleasure of experiencing fireworks at Athens's own Bishop Park with the students who decided to stay with us during the 4th of July weekend. I, myself, haven't seen a real fireworks show in person in a long while, so this will be an awesome treat for me. This program is really a chance for students to experience one of many off-campus locales that they may want to enjoy as a UGA student. It's similar to giving them a grand tour of Athens, GA and the local restaurants, shops, movie theaters, malls, etc. but also experiencing the locales first hand instead of reading about a few historical facts about them, which I know is good, too! (^_^)
The real fun begins on Tuesday the 6th when we have out first GRADED social program, the "3 on 3 Volleyball Tourney and BBQ". Yes, I said "graded", as in you attend this program for course credit. (I believe I explained that part of Freshman College before.) Students sign up to attend "Beyond the Classroom" programs about academics, culture, and socializing with others that count towards 10% of their final grade while in Freshman College this summer session. Incentives. Gotta love it.
I know I've been promising to post pics of experience lately, but I think I'm going to use an online photo album and post the link to it on another blog update. I have A LOT of pics to sort through and organize before they go public. Maybe I should be doing that now. LOL!
TTFN! Ta-ta for now! (^_^)
~Steven
Last night the Freshman College and I hosted an "Italian Ice Kick-Off" for the students and staff members in the program. It was a way of us saying, "Welcome to Freshman College! We hope you enjoyed your first day of classes. Here's a special treat to officially welcome you....and also to calm the nerves a little." You see, Freshman College is not so similar to other summer programs of its type. Most either focus on the academic preparation side of college transition, while others focus on the social/developmental piece. Well, Freshman College combines these two aspects for one holistic experience that I'm proud to be a part of. More or less, it's like my class conversations about Student and Academic Affairs working together for the development and success of our college students. Pretty cool seeing it unfold before me!
Tomorrow (Happy 4th of July!), I have the pleasure of experiencing fireworks at Athens's own Bishop Park with the students who decided to stay with us during the 4th of July weekend. I, myself, haven't seen a real fireworks show in person in a long while, so this will be an awesome treat for me. This program is really a chance for students to experience one of many off-campus locales that they may want to enjoy as a UGA student. It's similar to giving them a grand tour of Athens, GA and the local restaurants, shops, movie theaters, malls, etc. but also experiencing the locales first hand instead of reading about a few historical facts about them, which I know is good, too! (^_^)
The real fun begins on Tuesday the 6th when we have out first GRADED social program, the "3 on 3 Volleyball Tourney and BBQ". Yes, I said "graded", as in you attend this program for course credit. (I believe I explained that part of Freshman College before.) Students sign up to attend "Beyond the Classroom" programs about academics, culture, and socializing with others that count towards 10% of their final grade while in Freshman College this summer session. Incentives. Gotta love it.
I know I've been promising to post pics of experience lately, but I think I'm going to use an online photo album and post the link to it on another blog update. I have A LOT of pics to sort through and organize before they go public. Maybe I should be doing that now. LOL!
TTFN! Ta-ta for now! (^_^)
~Steven
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Me and RA Training! Feels so right!
Hi friends!
I'm saddened by this, but it's almost the halfway mark for my summer internship with UGA. Sigh. All good experiences must come to an end. But I must return to the Gator Nation and get that Masters degree.
Enough sulking. Let's smile SPHE-sters! A few weeks ago, I was asked to present to the Freshman College RAs on several topics for their training week. Needless to say, I jumped at this opportunity. For the past few days I've been either presenting something to the RAs or keeping tabs on what goes on during the RA training process at UGA. On Monday, I presented "Preparing Your Wing" with their graduate supervisor, Jane Lee. It was mostly a presentation about generating creative ideas when making Door Decs for their residents, understanding the versatility of bulletin board and floor themes, and gaining knowledge of the paperwork that is needed to get their rooms and floors ready for Move-In (which is this Sunday!).
Tonight, actually, I'm talking about RA Duty and Rounds with my internship supervisor. I do have a good bit of RA Duty and Rounds experiences, and I'm sure some of the RAs would like to hear my 2 cents about the topic, but I, too, am very interested in learning how RA Duty is run within the Dept. of Housing at UGA. So let's see how it goes!
Lastly, I should be assisting in what's called "A Day in the Life", which is actually another name for "Behind Closed Doors" (at Clemson) or "Crisis Street" (at UF). All RAs, new and returning, participate in a series of scenarios that may take place on their floors during their year as an RA. Scenarios range from parental disagreement, roommate conflicts, noise violations, alcohol and drug violations, sexual assault, wild parties, suicide, eating disorders, etc. RAs are challenged to enter the scenario and used their training knowledge and best judgment to act accordingly. Staff and their fellow RAs are always there to assist and support them throughout this process.
Oh yeah! NACURH 2010 should be coming to a close in UC San Diego. I wanted to go like BAD, but alas I was unable to because of the internship obligations. All the more reason to make absolutely sure that working closely with RHA and Hall Governments is a big or semi-big part of my entry-level position description next year. (Note: NACURH is the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. It's a national conference held every summer at a member college or university of higher education for students in Residence Hall or Resident Student Associations (RHAs/RSAs) as well as National Residence Hall Honoraries (NRHHs). In UF's case, IRHA, the Inter-Residence Hall Association, is a member.)
And one small change to a previous blog post. My programming idea "My FCSE Project" was not taken well by a few folks, so I've decided to tweek it a bit and make an electronic yearbook for the FCSE folks to take at the end of the summer. Let's see if I can sharpen my computer skills with this new project. Plus, my supervisor's new dog's name is Wendy, not Emily. I was a lil' mistaken. (Still wanted Vuitton, though.)
Oh! And one more thing. I'm kinda hooked on HBO's True Blood, thanks to my supervisor and her BFF. It's about time HBO picked itself back up after dropping The Soprano's, Six Feet Under, Arliss, and of course Sex and the City. See you next week, loves! *hug*
I'm saddened by this, but it's almost the halfway mark for my summer internship with UGA. Sigh. All good experiences must come to an end. But I must return to the Gator Nation and get that Masters degree.
Enough sulking. Let's smile SPHE-sters! A few weeks ago, I was asked to present to the Freshman College RAs on several topics for their training week. Needless to say, I jumped at this opportunity. For the past few days I've been either presenting something to the RAs or keeping tabs on what goes on during the RA training process at UGA. On Monday, I presented "Preparing Your Wing" with their graduate supervisor, Jane Lee. It was mostly a presentation about generating creative ideas when making Door Decs for their residents, understanding the versatility of bulletin board and floor themes, and gaining knowledge of the paperwork that is needed to get their rooms and floors ready for Move-In (which is this Sunday!).
Tonight, actually, I'm talking about RA Duty and Rounds with my internship supervisor. I do have a good bit of RA Duty and Rounds experiences, and I'm sure some of the RAs would like to hear my 2 cents about the topic, but I, too, am very interested in learning how RA Duty is run within the Dept. of Housing at UGA. So let's see how it goes!
Lastly, I should be assisting in what's called "A Day in the Life", which is actually another name for "Behind Closed Doors" (at Clemson) or "Crisis Street" (at UF). All RAs, new and returning, participate in a series of scenarios that may take place on their floors during their year as an RA. Scenarios range from parental disagreement, roommate conflicts, noise violations, alcohol and drug violations, sexual assault, wild parties, suicide, eating disorders, etc. RAs are challenged to enter the scenario and used their training knowledge and best judgment to act accordingly. Staff and their fellow RAs are always there to assist and support them throughout this process.
Oh yeah! NACURH 2010 should be coming to a close in UC San Diego. I wanted to go like BAD, but alas I was unable to because of the internship obligations. All the more reason to make absolutely sure that working closely with RHA and Hall Governments is a big or semi-big part of my entry-level position description next year. (Note: NACURH is the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. It's a national conference held every summer at a member college or university of higher education for students in Residence Hall or Resident Student Associations (RHAs/RSAs) as well as National Residence Hall Honoraries (NRHHs). In UF's case, IRHA, the Inter-Residence Hall Association, is a member.)
And one small change to a previous blog post. My programming idea "My FCSE Project" was not taken well by a few folks, so I've decided to tweek it a bit and make an electronic yearbook for the FCSE folks to take at the end of the summer. Let's see if I can sharpen my computer skills with this new project. Plus, my supervisor's new dog's name is Wendy, not Emily. I was a lil' mistaken. (Still wanted Vuitton, though.)
Oh! And one more thing. I'm kinda hooked on HBO's True Blood, thanks to my supervisor and her BFF. It's about time HBO picked itself back up after dropping The Soprano's, Six Feet Under, Arliss, and of course Sex and the City. See you next week, loves! *hug*
Saturday, June 19, 2010
RHA, Ralphel, and a Doggie (^_^)
Howdy, folks!
I'm gonna say something that may shock and disturb some of you. I think I'm falling in love...with UGA! LOL! I am not too far from hitting the one month mark, but I'm rolling over for this institution and its Student Affairs professionals. (This is the part where the Gator fans turn on me. LOL!)
In any case, I have some updates on the meetings I've been having with other people within Student Affairs here at UGA. I had the pleasure of being invited to chat with the incoming President of UGA's Residence Hall Association. Like many RHAs, it is the "voice of the residents who live on campus." If you wanna learn more about what UGA's RHA does during the year, check out their website: http://www.uga.edu/rha/index.html. I also had the opportunity to meet with the Webmaster of the upcoming South Atlantic Affiliate of Colleges and University Residence Halls (SAACURH) 2010 Conference, which is being held at, you guessed it, UGA! I wish I would have some hand in planning bits and pieces of the conference, or even get a chance to go, but alas it's not part of my internship description.
In an interesting turn of events, I also had a chance to meet with Dr. Ralphel Smith again on a one-on-one basis. Dr. Smith is a very fascinating man and I feel so privileged that he was comfortable and confident enough to share his life story, from childhood to Student Affairs professional, with me. I was a bit shocked at how much in common we both really are. We're both more like "accommodators" rather than "intimidators", we both are very relationship-oriented when working with staff members rather than expecting people to perform their jobs and that's all she wrote, and we both have mad style. (^_^) I am very much contemplating the idea of developing a great professional relationship with him as another mentor for me, one who can advise me on the personal aspects of being a Student Affairs professionals, as Kathy Hobgood from Clemson University advises me on professional and staff development and the like.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. A list of the programs that I'm planning for Freshman College! Fresh out of the oven, too! (^_^)
Italian Ice Kick-Off
3 on 3 Volleyball Tourney and BBQ
Game Night Bonanza
Dawg-O (It's really Bingo with UGA-related prizes)
The Bulldog Carnival
What's Your Flavor? (A dessert bar of Suno. Yes, Suno. Check out the vendor: http://www.suno-dessert.com/)
Movie Nights
"Midterms are Over" Pool Party
Cool River Tubing in Helen, GA
The "My FCSE" Video Project
Flashback Dance Party
UGA Jeopardy
Moonlite Breakfast
Anti-Stress Night (Relaxation Before Finals)
Oh! And on a different note, my internship supervisor just adopting a lil' dog today! She is precious. I think she's gonna name her Emily. I was shooting for Vuitton, but oh well. (^_^) Pictures of her and my other adventures at UGA are forthcoming! Stay tuned! Ta!
~Stevie.
I'm gonna say something that may shock and disturb some of you. I think I'm falling in love...with UGA! LOL! I am not too far from hitting the one month mark, but I'm rolling over for this institution and its Student Affairs professionals. (This is the part where the Gator fans turn on me. LOL!)
In any case, I have some updates on the meetings I've been having with other people within Student Affairs here at UGA. I had the pleasure of being invited to chat with the incoming President of UGA's Residence Hall Association. Like many RHAs, it is the "voice of the residents who live on campus." If you wanna learn more about what UGA's RHA does during the year, check out their website: http://www.uga.edu/rha/index.html. I also had the opportunity to meet with the Webmaster of the upcoming South Atlantic Affiliate of Colleges and University Residence Halls (SAACURH) 2010 Conference, which is being held at, you guessed it, UGA! I wish I would have some hand in planning bits and pieces of the conference, or even get a chance to go, but alas it's not part of my internship description.
In an interesting turn of events, I also had a chance to meet with Dr. Ralphel Smith again on a one-on-one basis. Dr. Smith is a very fascinating man and I feel so privileged that he was comfortable and confident enough to share his life story, from childhood to Student Affairs professional, with me. I was a bit shocked at how much in common we both really are. We're both more like "accommodators" rather than "intimidators", we both are very relationship-oriented when working with staff members rather than expecting people to perform their jobs and that's all she wrote, and we both have mad style. (^_^) I am very much contemplating the idea of developing a great professional relationship with him as another mentor for me, one who can advise me on the personal aspects of being a Student Affairs professionals, as Kathy Hobgood from Clemson University advises me on professional and staff development and the like.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. A list of the programs that I'm planning for Freshman College! Fresh out of the oven, too! (^_^)
Italian Ice Kick-Off
3 on 3 Volleyball Tourney and BBQ
Game Night Bonanza
Dawg-O (It's really Bingo with UGA-related prizes)
The Bulldog Carnival
What's Your Flavor? (A dessert bar of Suno. Yes, Suno. Check out the vendor: http://www.suno-dessert.com/)
Movie Nights
"Midterms are Over" Pool Party
Cool River Tubing in Helen, GA
The "My FCSE" Video Project
Flashback Dance Party
UGA Jeopardy
Moonlite Breakfast
Anti-Stress Night (Relaxation Before Finals)
Oh! And on a different note, my internship supervisor just adopting a lil' dog today! She is precious. I think she's gonna name her Emily. I was shooting for Vuitton, but oh well. (^_^) Pictures of her and my other adventures at UGA are forthcoming! Stay tuned! Ta!
~Stevie.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Best!
Yesterday afternoon was by far one of the best intern orientation meetings I have ever encountered. (It took a whole day to post this. I needed time to absorb it all. It was that intense!) Wait, rewind for a sec. All of the UGA interns are given the opportunity to visit other offices and departments within the Division of Student Affairs at UGA. The most impactful was our meeting on Monday with Dr. Rodney Bennett, VP of Student Affairs, and two of his colleagues Dr. Thomas Burke. Assoc. VP for Student Affairs, and Dr. Jan Barham, Asst. to the VP for Assessment and Staff Development.
The representatives from the VP of Student Affairs Office shared a great amount of helpful words of wisdom and incredible insight on the Student Affairs profession. I remember Dr. Bennett commenting, "The profession selects you." Interestingly, that is very much true. Many of us who are currently in Student Affairs or making progress in entering the field never knew it existed when we were in elementary school desiring to be doctors, firefighters, and master chefs. I'm not sure if it's an undergraduate major yet, which would be amazing if it was. But eventually we do find our way at the steps of Student Affairs's home and invited in to stay.
Primarily, the important take-away from this experience is the advice given for entry-level professionals in this day in age.
"Work for the organization." - Dr. Bennett.
"Humility is important." - Dr. Bennett.
"Very little is accomplished on our own." - Dr. Burke.
"Student Affairs is institutionally defined." - Dr. Bennett.
This is only a small sample of what is important for entry-level professionals to dwell upon today. We should discover what we can do to advance the office or department we work for, not push our own ideas the moment we enter the first staff meeting. We should humble ourselves and be willing to do the "odd jobs" around the office that aren't written in the position descriptions. As Quinn Morgendorffer from "Daria" once said, "If not you, who? If not now, when?" Very little is accomplished on are own, because working in Student Affairs, and many professions, is a TEAM effort! I am a big supporter of teamwork, collaboration, and partnerships, and hope many other soon-to-be entry-level professionals of my generation are the same. Lastly, the conceptualization of what Student Affairs itself is can be very different from institution to institution. It's important to hone in on what Student Affairs mean at the university we work with and decipher it rather than maintaining one definition from our grad school days. Student Affairs, as with many things, evolve and expand with age.
There is SO much more that I can say about this particular meeting with members of the VP of Student Affairs Office, but I think it may be a little overwhelming. Very powerful stuff!
Until the next posting! (^_^)
The representatives from the VP of Student Affairs Office shared a great amount of helpful words of wisdom and incredible insight on the Student Affairs profession. I remember Dr. Bennett commenting, "The profession selects you." Interestingly, that is very much true. Many of us who are currently in Student Affairs or making progress in entering the field never knew it existed when we were in elementary school desiring to be doctors, firefighters, and master chefs. I'm not sure if it's an undergraduate major yet, which would be amazing if it was. But eventually we do find our way at the steps of Student Affairs's home and invited in to stay.
Primarily, the important take-away from this experience is the advice given for entry-level professionals in this day in age.
"Work for the organization." - Dr. Bennett.
"Humility is important." - Dr. Bennett.
"Very little is accomplished on our own." - Dr. Burke.
"Student Affairs is institutionally defined." - Dr. Bennett.
This is only a small sample of what is important for entry-level professionals to dwell upon today. We should discover what we can do to advance the office or department we work for, not push our own ideas the moment we enter the first staff meeting. We should humble ourselves and be willing to do the "odd jobs" around the office that aren't written in the position descriptions. As Quinn Morgendorffer from "Daria" once said, "If not you, who? If not now, when?" Very little is accomplished on are own, because working in Student Affairs, and many professions, is a TEAM effort! I am a big supporter of teamwork, collaboration, and partnerships, and hope many other soon-to-be entry-level professionals of my generation are the same. Lastly, the conceptualization of what Student Affairs itself is can be very different from institution to institution. It's important to hone in on what Student Affairs mean at the university we work with and decipher it rather than maintaining one definition from our grad school days. Student Affairs, as with many things, evolve and expand with age.
There is SO much more that I can say about this particular meeting with members of the VP of Student Affairs Office, but I think it may be a little overwhelming. Very powerful stuff!
Until the next posting! (^_^)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Hey, Soul Sister!
Well, it's official. One work week of the internship down and my supervisor and I already have a theme song together. That's right! Train's "Hey, Soul Sister." Now every time we ride around Athens or listen to what's playing in the dining halls, we'll break out into karaoke. It is THE song! (But so is Lady Ga-Ga's "Telephone", Ke$ha's "Your Love is My Drug", and Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now".) The funny part of this is that some of the interns don't favor the song, so we tease them about that. LOL! All in all, I found this to be a GREAT start to a long-lasting friendship with a fellow Student Affairs colleague. Kara rocks!
A lot has taken place since I first started working in my office in Russell Hall. Most of my time has been spent visiting other offices and departments within UGA Student Affairs, such as the Office of Judicial Programs, Office for Violence Prevention, Center for Leadership and Service, and my fave so far Residence Hall Education and Services. (I'm so into Housing!) I'm very hopeful that my fellow graduate colleagues and other summer interns are given the opportunity to at least tour the many offices and departments that make up the Division of Student Affairs at their respective institutions. It's a great way to learn so much more about the institution, on top of the fun to be had at their internship positions. There is still MUCH more to cover in the next few days and I can't wait to meet the folks from the LGBT Resource Center, the Tate Student Center, the Career Center, and of course the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.
So an update on what I, myself, and doing at UGA. As a recap, I'm working as an ACUHO-I intern with the Freshman College Summer Experience (FCSE). This is a partnership between UGA Academic Enhancement and the Department of University Housing where incoming first-year students are given the chance to move-in and take classes within the later summer session for course credit. It gets better! These particular students get a chance to sample the UGA culture, learn more about college life sooner, and get a chance to sink their teeth into Bulldog territory inside and outside of the classroom. That's where I and my programming initiatives come in! I'm sitting on about 15 programs total and am so excited to see them unfold in July! (No, I won't share with you what those programs are just yet. I'll have to surprise you!)
Within all position descriptions there's always the "other duties as described by supervisor" disclaimer or some variation thereof. That's always a fun statement in Housing. On top of working with the FCSE this summer, I also get a chance to dabble in Conference Services within my building. (Choice!) In addition, I have the esteem pleasure to present to the Resident Assistants specifically hired to work with the residents in Freshman College. (Wicked!) I'll also get a chance to pick the brains of MANY of the big wigs in Housing (Rick Gibson, Ralphel Smith, and Gerry Kowalski, just to name a few) and the president of UGA's Residence Hall Association (RHA for short). (Rockin'!) It may sound like a lot now, but I've been working in Housing for about 4 years now. And yes I still adore it!
Whew! That's A LOT for a one-week update, and I haven't even gotten around to my summer reading list. It'll get done. Trust!
Later days! (^_^)
A lot has taken place since I first started working in my office in Russell Hall. Most of my time has been spent visiting other offices and departments within UGA Student Affairs, such as the Office of Judicial Programs, Office for Violence Prevention, Center for Leadership and Service, and my fave so far Residence Hall Education and Services. (I'm so into Housing!) I'm very hopeful that my fellow graduate colleagues and other summer interns are given the opportunity to at least tour the many offices and departments that make up the Division of Student Affairs at their respective institutions. It's a great way to learn so much more about the institution, on top of the fun to be had at their internship positions. There is still MUCH more to cover in the next few days and I can't wait to meet the folks from the LGBT Resource Center, the Tate Student Center, the Career Center, and of course the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.
So an update on what I, myself, and doing at UGA. As a recap, I'm working as an ACUHO-I intern with the Freshman College Summer Experience (FCSE). This is a partnership between UGA Academic Enhancement and the Department of University Housing where incoming first-year students are given the chance to move-in and take classes within the later summer session for course credit. It gets better! These particular students get a chance to sample the UGA culture, learn more about college life sooner, and get a chance to sink their teeth into Bulldog territory inside and outside of the classroom. That's where I and my programming initiatives come in! I'm sitting on about 15 programs total and am so excited to see them unfold in July! (No, I won't share with you what those programs are just yet. I'll have to surprise you!)
Within all position descriptions there's always the "other duties as described by supervisor" disclaimer or some variation thereof. That's always a fun statement in Housing. On top of working with the FCSE this summer, I also get a chance to dabble in Conference Services within my building. (Choice!) In addition, I have the esteem pleasure to present to the Resident Assistants specifically hired to work with the residents in Freshman College. (Wicked!) I'll also get a chance to pick the brains of MANY of the big wigs in Housing (Rick Gibson, Ralphel Smith, and Gerry Kowalski, just to name a few) and the president of UGA's Residence Hall Association (RHA for short). (Rockin'!) It may sound like a lot now, but I've been working in Housing for about 4 years now. And yes I still adore it!
Whew! That's A LOT for a one-week update, and I haven't even gotten around to my summer reading list. It'll get done. Trust!
Later days! (^_^)
Friday, May 28, 2010
Like Oh My Wow!!!
It is official, folks! My first full day in Athens, GA and it was a lil' intense. A GOOD intense! I have already met the other interns within the department and they are all great Student Affairs folks. I foresee several Downtown dinner runs and random trips to Wal-Mart at 2 in the morning! I believe it's safe to say that I will certainly enjoy the company of the other interns! Clay, Kalin, Maggie, and Alex, you folks rock!
I've gotten a chance to meet a lot of the professional staff before intern orientation even began. Just lucky, I guess. :-) I had the pleasure of meeting the other Area Coordinators and Assistant Area Coordinators Azura Morgan, Louis Gustafson, Megan Horan, as well as the Asst. Director of Res Life Ralphel Smith. Ralphel and I have crossed paths once before about a year ago during Grad Stuff Interview Weekend. Didn't get that Grad Resident position, but I did get into UGA as an ACUHO-I Intern! Even the folks who handled my paperwork (Jamie and Danny) and was bored through all of my HR questions over the summer were cool!
Today was indeed another example of how much fun Housing folks can be. It's pretty early to tell, but I'm thinking that UGA will indeed be in my sights during the...JOB SEARCH!!! I'm ready!!!
Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, folks! (^_^)
I've gotten a chance to meet a lot of the professional staff before intern orientation even began. Just lucky, I guess. :-) I had the pleasure of meeting the other Area Coordinators and Assistant Area Coordinators Azura Morgan, Louis Gustafson, Megan Horan, as well as the Asst. Director of Res Life Ralphel Smith. Ralphel and I have crossed paths once before about a year ago during Grad Stuff Interview Weekend. Didn't get that Grad Resident position, but I did get into UGA as an ACUHO-I Intern! Even the folks who handled my paperwork (Jamie and Danny) and was bored through all of my HR questions over the summer were cool!
Today was indeed another example of how much fun Housing folks can be. It's pretty early to tell, but I'm thinking that UGA will indeed be in my sights during the...JOB SEARCH!!! I'm ready!!!
Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, folks! (^_^)
Monday, May 24, 2010
We're Alllllmost There!
If you seen Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" and remember this particular song (in the blog post title) from the movie, you know where I'm coming from!
Well, it's almost time for me to depart home again. Three days to be exact! This time, FOR ATHENS!!! Nope, not in Greece. The state of Georgia. Excitement! (^_^) It has only been about 2 weeks since I left UF for the summer, keeping close contact with UGA folks, like my supervisor, fellow interns at UGA, and even grads who plan to be at UGA for the summer. Interestingly, I found the beginning of this experience to really be a repeat of me coming to UF. Feeling the welcoming smiles from my new colleagues before I even hit the interstate exit for campus! I'm pretty sure we will all hit it off extremely well at UGA. Let's hope there's no ill will from either UF or UGA for me adding both universities on my resume. Ah, college rivalries. What fun times.
Extreme thanks goes out to Kara, Anna, Clayton, Jamie, Danny, and many others who are going to make this summer enjoyable for me! Cheers to the next two months in UGA!!!!! (^_^)
TTFN!!! Ta-ta for now! (^_^)
Well, it's almost time for me to depart home again. Three days to be exact! This time, FOR ATHENS!!! Nope, not in Greece. The state of Georgia. Excitement! (^_^) It has only been about 2 weeks since I left UF for the summer, keeping close contact with UGA folks, like my supervisor, fellow interns at UGA, and even grads who plan to be at UGA for the summer. Interestingly, I found the beginning of this experience to really be a repeat of me coming to UF. Feeling the welcoming smiles from my new colleagues before I even hit the interstate exit for campus! I'm pretty sure we will all hit it off extremely well at UGA. Let's hope there's no ill will from either UF or UGA for me adding both universities on my resume. Ah, college rivalries. What fun times.
Extreme thanks goes out to Kara, Anna, Clayton, Jamie, Danny, and many others who are going to make this summer enjoyable for me! Cheers to the next two months in UGA!!!!! (^_^)
TTFN!!! Ta-ta for now! (^_^)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Excitement!!!
Hi folks!
Welcome to the first official blog posting! It's official. My first year of graduate school is complete, summer has finally made the scene, and my head is still a lil' swollen from the vast knowledge and experiences of the Student Affairs practitioner I am to become. (^_^)
As I look back, I think of some of the people who influenced the person who created this blog:
Kathy Hobgood, Director of Residence Life at Clemson University
Jonathan Wylie, Area Coordinator at Clemson University
Dr. Luis Ponjuan, UF Student Personnel in Higher Education Professor
My mother
These individuals have, in one way or another, encouraged me, challenged me, and supported me in everything I do and everything I am destined to do. I have a plethora of other influential folks within my professional and personal life, but that would be too many names for one blog post. (^_^)
TTFN!!! Ta-ta for now!!!
Welcome to the first official blog posting! It's official. My first year of graduate school is complete, summer has finally made the scene, and my head is still a lil' swollen from the vast knowledge and experiences of the Student Affairs practitioner I am to become. (^_^)
As I look back, I think of some of the people who influenced the person who created this blog:
Kathy Hobgood, Director of Residence Life at Clemson University
Jonathan Wylie, Area Coordinator at Clemson University
Dr. Luis Ponjuan, UF Student Personnel in Higher Education Professor
My mother
These individuals have, in one way or another, encouraged me, challenged me, and supported me in everything I do and everything I am destined to do. I have a plethora of other influential folks within my professional and personal life, but that would be too many names for one blog post. (^_^)
TTFN!!! Ta-ta for now!!!
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