So what are you studying, anyway?

[redmisoplz]

Hey everyone!

As most of you know, I’m currently working on a master’s degree at Western Illinois University. What I’ve neglected to explain is exactly what I’m studying and why. I think if I were to tell you that I’m studying “College Student Personnel,” that still wouldn’t give you any clue as to what I’m doing. For some of you in other countries, it may even be confusing because the meaning of “college” is different for us all. Regardless of whether or not you attend a “college” or a “university,” there may be a student services division working hard to make your learning experience rewarding and enjoyable. 

If I try to sum it up in a few sentences, I could say the College Student Personnel program exists to train people to become student affairs professionals. We study the organization and administration of the American higher education system, work in offices to gain experience about programming and services, and we advise and assist students with their needs. We do all of this in order to help students grow as individuals and become well-rounded members of society. But having said that, I still don’t think it explains fully what the program is about. 

Before I attempt to elaborate on the purpose and goals of the program, let me first explain what areas make up a university’s student affairs division. Even though every university and college is different, the student affairs division will be comprised of similar offices. For example, the Residence Life office will be in charge of managing the residence halls, the dining halls, and other services associated with living on campus at the institution. The Public Safety office is in charge of having police and other staff on hand for emergencies and to maintain campus safety. Offices such as the Career Center, the Counseling Center, and Student Activities and Organizations could be under the Dean of Students office because they offer guidance on personal growth and leadership. No matter the set up of the university, the student affairs division can be thought of as the part of campus life that deals with helping students learn about themselves while the academic divisions give them knowledge about their chosen subject area. 

Going back to what I mentioned earlier, students in the College Student Personnel program are learning to be student affairs professionals. This means that someday they will be working in offices like the ones mentioned above and will be responsible for guiding students into becoming well-rounded individuals. Although our areas are different, the goals of student affairs professionals are very similar. We want students to discover their potential through opportunities for activity. This could mean becoming involved with a student organization, joining an athletic team, or participating in the various programs a university offers. All of these experiences will give students a chance to show leadership and growth. Student affairs professionals also want students to think about their strengths and weaknesses and find ways to use those strengths to their advantage or work to eliminate those weaknesses. By the end of a student’s undergraduate career, a student affairs professional hopes that student understands what he or she can do to contribute to making society a better place. 

I know it sounds all “touchy-feely,” and it is in a way, but it’s also very important. For those of you who have graduated, or those of you about to graduate, think about how you feel about yourself now and what all you’ve learned. Then think about how you felt when you first started your undergraduate courses. Do you feel that you learned a lot not only about your subject but about yourself? Do you feel you’ve grown into a mature adult ready to make important decisions about the future? If so, then you’ve accomplished what a student affairs professional set out to help you do. We do it because we want to see students discover who they are and how they can use their talents to contribute to the world. We do it because we remember the people who helped us when we were lost and needed advice on difficult issues. And we do it because we too like to interact with people from different backgrounds because it helps our own personal growth. As for myself, I enjoy knowing that I've helped someone accomplish a goal and experience something new.  

Well, I hope that helps explain a little bit about what I'm doing over here at Western Illinois. If you have any questions, please ask! Thanks for reading!

Comments

[goingasajet.livejournal.com]

I'm really impressed with this essay!!! I'm still remembering how to write in English (and Japanese).

Good luck. gambatte!

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm sure someday we'll remember how to write nice English essays.

Best wishes~

[wishingstar17.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's really awesome! How did you decide that this was what you wanted to do? What started your interest? Will there be an opportunity for you to work with college students while you're studying?

Right now, I'm at the UA, and for a southwestern University we have a pretty strong student affairs network. Right now I actively use the Asian Pacific American Student Affairs (APASA) center, and I know I would be nothing like I am today if I didn't have such a place to fall back on. The staff there has helped me so much, and I think it's wonderful that you're studying to be something similar to them!

What department were you thinking about doing? Have you heard of TRiO? Or Student Support Services (SSS)? UA's TRiO is similar to APASA, but it focuses its retention efforts toward freshman and sophomores that commute to school rather than the APA population.

You've worked with high school kids before and that's a challenge in itself, so I'm sure working with college kids will present new challenges.

Good luck with your life endeavors!

-Florence

Re: Best wishes~

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

It's great to hear you had such a positive experience with the APASA office. I sometimes feel, and as the comments will show, that not all student services offices are student-centered in their beliefs. Honestly, that's a breakdown in their goals and mission to serve students.

I haven't heard of TRiO, but I'm glad someone is focusing their efforts on commuter students. I was a commuter, and it's so hard to find your place at school when it feels more like a job you drive to every day.

[nitrosss.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[mage.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting field to be in... You should come work for my school. I don't want to sound mean, but I tend to have a lack of faith in things like that--mostly because, well... I don't know, few people actually know about them?

I'm in my third year at (I guess it would be..) university, and I feel like I went into my first year knowing more about myself than I do now. Right now I'm having some serious issues feeling like I'm never going to make it anywhere and that maybe I'm just not meant for this.

It would be nice to know if I were, as you said, "student [who] understands what he or she can do to contribute to making society a better place."

I just feel like college is a big mess. :/

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

Second guessing can happen at various points during an undergraduate career, but if you really are having concerns about what you want to do or where you want to go, I can suggest some student services areas that can help.

When I was worried about the future, it helped when I talked with a career counselor about job opportunities. They were able to give me some suggestions on what I could do with my degree and how to make it work for me.

If you're feeling anxious or stressed out, why not visit the counseling center? Through my work there, I've recently learned that a counseling center isn't just for people with "problems." They have services ranging from super serious issues (assault, drugs, mental illness, etc.) all the way to things like assertiveness training, conflict management, and relaxation techniques for when you're stressed out. You can talk to a counselor about anything and everything. It doesn't have to be a major issue.

Talking with people at school really does help, but you have to find people who are knowledgeable and will listen to you.

Good Luck Wishes^^

[kurai-no-cho.livejournal.com]

I think it sounds like a good program,because although I am out of college,when I was there it sometimes would feel like the people working in certain student service facilities had no idea what they were doing,which would leave me frustrated. Also my friends who are still in college seem to still be dealing with the same frustrations I had,so you participating in a program that would elminate that is wonderful.
When I first started college,I was just going because I felt it was what I should do after high school.I was the studious one,so why wouldn't I attend college.Sometimes it feels like college I was completely running on auto pilot,just going through the motions,but there are other times I had a class,or a teacher who really made college something I looked forward to.My knowledge of various subjects did grow,definitely more than it would have if I had not went on to college.
I feel as if I am rambling here,so I should wrap this comment up.
So what is your goal once you finish the degree program with Western Illinois?
What was it like for you when you first started your undergraduate work?

Re: Good Luck Wishes^^

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of people who go off to college and have no idea what they're good at or what they want to do. That's perfectly fine, but these people also tend to finish college just as lost as before. I think it's going to take collaboration on the part of academic departments and student services departments to help these students set goals in life and find a career where they can use their talents and skills.

[okuralove816.livejournal.com]

>Do you feel that you learned a lot not only about your subject but about yourself? Do you feel you’ve grown into a mature adult ready to make important decisions about the future?<

Not really but I went to a commuter school and really didn't get to see much of what the student affairs division did for my university. Does your program offer advice, suggestions and/or classes in how to get past the commuter school "handicap?"

It sounds like you chose something really neat to study! My friend from high school also got a masters in this and is now working in California. She seems to really love it.

ganbatte, yo! (.^_^)b

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure we're ever really 100% mature and ready to deal with decisions, so a little confusion is okay. ^_^

I was a commuter too and constantly felt left out. Plus, I went to school in my hometown, so it really was like an extension of high school. I don't know about this campus, but my undergraduate campus had a commuter student organization that met to plan activities for those of us who didn't live in the residence halls. I think that's one way for commuters to connect and become more involved. This degree program places an emphasis on diverse student groups, and commuters are one of those categories. Maybe in the future I can use my own experiences to help those students.

[tsukiori.livejournal.com]

I have had both good and horribly bad experiences with the student affairs departments at my colleges. I think it's super that there is actually a program that trains people to hopefully do it right ^_^ Good luck with it, sweetie!

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

People used to criticize me for having my mom do a lot of calling around campus when I was an undergrad, but I had her do it because I knew if I tried they'd just give me the runaround and avoid helping me. When I think back to those moments of being frustrated because the offices didn't want to help students, it makes me realize how important it is to have this kind of degree program. I hope when I finish, students will feel comfortable enough with me to ask for help.

[chidorichan.livejournal.com]

I can say I admired the student services people at my college, and the ones with whom I worked most closely, the career counselors, were quite kind. I attended a few general workshops (like etiquette for business dinners, attending job fairs, etc.) and had quite a few one-on-one appointments with a counselor who was very nice and gave me all this information on what I could do with my major. She also taped a mock job interview with me and then gave me feedback (she said I had done a great job, too), which made me feel so much more comfortable with the prospect of having interviews in real life. I thought I did well on all of my real job interviews, plus I had a great resume (which my career counselor approved and said was great), but... I never got a "proper" job (I do freelance work to scrape by now).

Either it was a combination of the job market, the fact that I'm extremely picky (I want a job within a short driving distance and there wasn't much in my field), and/or I didn't have the right "connections," but I've quite often been picked to be a final candidate for a job without actually getting the job. I still applaud what the career center did for me--I can't imagine what else they could have done for me besides magically getting me a job--and they really made me confident that I was going to have a great life after college, but I've felt more lost than ever after graduating (two years ago now).

I don't know. What else can someone who works in that division do? My career center said they even work with alumni, so I could have gone back to them for help, but after all those tools they had given me and I had failed, I felt too ashamed to turn to them for more help. What more could they have done for me? I had already become less picky and was interviewing for jobs not in the field I wanted, but I still couldn't get even those. How would you handle meeting with an alumna like me, who followed all of the career center's steps and advice and still has nothing to show for it?

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be ashamed to return to the career center for help. I know a lot of people who need help even after graduation with job hunting. They may be able to look over your resume and your interview style and see if anything has changed. The job market may also have changed and you could just need to get in contact with people who have lists of available jobs. Career counselors attend conferences and workshops in order to keep up with recent changes in the field, so they may have some new information to help you get the job you want. It's worth a try!

[tipsytoe.livejournal.com]

Good luck in everything! I think like what everyone else have mentioned, this department sometimes can really leave students frustrated. And the fact that they have special programmed to train personnels is a great idea. I know my school has left me frustrated so many times. I guess it is because their personnels were not trained for this sort of profession, thus they'd end up making us wait on the line, or just helping us halfway.

But I must say that from my observations (when I was made to wait one hour just to collect my degree certificate!), this line is definitely not easy. Students can come to with lots of various problems, and their patience may not run as long as waiting one hour for a bloody certificate. ;)

Good luck in this, and work hard! I am sure you will be excellent. You've worked with students before, so that gives you an edge. :)))

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

I think it would be really interesting to hear about your experiences with student services offices in your home country and in Oklahoma. I'm not sure what offices are present in your university in Singapore, but I'm sure you have some departments that exist to guide the students in the school. Then I wonder how similar or how different they are from what exists in your study abroad university. I hope as I move along in the program I can learn more about the organization of universities in other countries.

[adfirmatiosg.livejournal.com]

After 5 years of college I can honestly say that the people who work behind the scenes are just as important as those that I have listen to everyday as they lecture to me about what I'm suppose to learn. I've had some great people help me along the way but at the same time, I've had some really crappy people who don't give much thought to their work. Those that have helped me have made me feel better about the decisions I've made while I was in school. They showed me my options and were very understanding, more so than I initially expected. Those that weren't so helpful have gotten me frustrated a number of times. I guess I shouldn't blame them though...my school is huge and they're probably sick of dealing with SO many students. But in the end, I think there is always room for improvement in helping dealing with student affairs....

SO...GOOD LUCK ROBIN! You'll do great! I'm glad you shared this essay with us because now I have a better understanding of what you do. Also, I didn't know there was a program dedicated to improving College Student Personnel, in fact, I was a little surprised (and oblivious maybe) so I'm glad you're in this field, it definitely needs your help! (^_^)

[nagoya-mewmew.livejournal.com]

It seems like no matter where you are, there are people who do their job right and people who don't care about quality service. I know I've experienced it myself at my own university. But I remember that there are some people who want to help students and make it their number one priority. I'm really glad those people are in place because it makes me proud to think I could join them someday and possibly guide a student to make a decision that will help him or her develop into a well-rounded individual.

[darbdash.livejournal.com]

Good luck! :)