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!

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

[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. :/

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?

[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

[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!

[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?

[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. :)))

[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! (^_^)

[darbdash.livejournal.com]

Good luck! :)