"Change. We don't like it. We fear it, but we can't stop it from coming. We either adapt to change or we get left behind. It hurts to grow, anybody who tells you it doesn't is lying, but here's the truth sometimes the more things change the more they stay t
he same. And sometimes, oh, sometimes change is good. Sometimes change is everything."
Sorry for not posting for a pretty long time. The end of this summer has flown by, and I completely forgot to update my blog. So much has happened that it's hard to fit it all into one post but here are the highlights:
LA Trip:
Los Angeles is perhaps my new favorite place in the world...more specifically UCLA. We (the interns and my friends Johlynn & Dustin) were fortunate enough to be able to stay in one of the residence halls at UCLA for free! So between renting a car and gas, the entire trip (not including gifts and food) was pretty cheap. We did all of the touristy things, like Hollywood/Rodeo Dr/Griffiths Observatory/Venice Beach/etc. We also met two and half celebrities, including Rob Pattinson/Alex Trabek/and one of the Jeopardy contestants (the 1/2 celeb) who we adte lunch with; however, my favorite part of the trip was spending half a day touring UCLA and getting to know some of the RD's. One of the RD's turned out to be a UNCW alumni...so you can imagine how excited I was. Although in the center of a major city, UCLA feels like its own beautiful little city... perhaps its because UCLA is nestled between Bel Air and Beverley Hills haha. Needless to say, I will be applying to jobs there when they have openings lol.
he same. And sometimes, oh, sometimes change is good. Sometimes change is everything."Sorry for not posting for a pretty long time. The end of this summer has flown by, and I completely forgot to update my blog. So much has happened that it's hard to fit it all into one post but here are the highlights:
LA Trip:
Los Angeles is perhaps my new favorite place in the world...more specifically UCLA. We (the interns and my friends Johlynn & Dustin) were fortunate enough to be able to stay in one of the residence halls at UCLA for free! So between renting a car and gas, the entire trip (not including gifts and food) was pretty cheap. We did all of the touristy things, like Hollywood/Rodeo Dr/Griffiths Observatory/Venice Beach/etc. We also met two and half celebrities, including Rob Pattinson/Alex Trabek/and one of the Jeopardy contestants (the 1/2 celeb) who we adte lunch with; however, my favorite part of the trip was spending half a day touring UCLA and getting to know some of the RD's. One of the RD's turned out to be a UNCW alumni...so you can imagine how excited I was. Although in the center of a major city, UCLA feels like its own beautiful little city... perhaps its because UCLA is nestled between Bel Air and Beverley Hills haha. Needless to say, I will be applying to jobs there when they have openings lol.
Excursions
Since my last post, I have gone on a TON of campus tours and large scale programs. Just to give you the highlights, this summer I've toured (and met/interviewed staff memebers at...) UCSF, UC Santa Cruz, Sonoma State, Stanford, UCLA, and of course Berkeley. Santa Cruz was probably the most interesting of the schools I have visited as they have a completely decentralized residential model...even more so than NC State. They are so decentralized that they each of the 10 'colleges' has its on provost/assistant dean/ and res life staff. Although this wasn't really related to the campus visit, we took the Pacific Coast Highway on the way back from Santa Cruz and it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen (see pics below). Some of the bigger programs I was fortunate to chaperon included a trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (there is a funny story that goes with this, so ask me about it some time), the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, the SF Museum of Modern Art, and a live performance/musical of Disney's Aladdin.
Evaluation Season
I have to say that after having completed 12 RA evaluations, I have decided that this was my least favorite part of my job. The entire process is cumbersome and time consuming. Not to mention, I really dislike having to give people negative feedback (unless I don't like them, which def wasn't the case with my RA's). However, it was a great learning opportunity, as I gave each RA an opportunity the chance to give me verbal feedback, in addition to the feedback they gave on their anonymous evaluation of me. One of my evaluations got really emotional as one of my students expressed how much our one on one's and friendship/mentor ship meant to them. It was definitely one of those moments that reaffirmed why I chose to go into this profession.
The quote I chose for the post was particularly poignant, as I totally feel that taking the risk to move to California this summer was the best decision I've ever made (or at least one of the top 3). I kind of lost myself in the months leading up to graduate school, and spent most of the year trying to rediscover who I was as an adult. Moving across the country by myself, and spending three months in an area where no one knew me was unimaginably refreshing. I really feel like I've found the old 'me' and am now able to incorporate that into my professional/adult life. Although exhausted, I am completely rejuvenated and ready to tackle the second year of my assistantship and graduate school. Bring it!
Upcoming blog posts:
Homelessness
Student Centered Student Affairs: Find our roots
My final post
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