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