New Professionals Institute: Professional Congruence

An initiative of our Division of Student Affairs is to help develop new professionals in the field. Because of this, the DSA developed a series called the New Professionals Institute. After applying to participate, around 40 of us have embarked on a year long professional development opportunity. Once a month, we meet to discuss a certain topic led by our more experienced colleagues. We talk in a large group, but we are also broken down into smaller discussion groups. Six sessions spread throughout the academic year, it is almost like a mini graduate course...even with it's own Blackboard page.

Today, aside from the orientation meeting, was our first session, and the topic was professional congruence. Who are you, what do you believe, what do you want to accomplish, and how does that align or not align with your university and you division? An appropriate first topic. We focused actually on a chapter from a NASPA monograph that I used in a presentation I did last year at ACPA with some other amazing new Student Affairs professionals.

Thinking about our own missions and comparing them with where we work seems like a basic thing to do, especially when we were searching for jobs in the first place. Yet today's discussion really made me start thinking about why I did come to FSU and why I took a job in Student Activities. I think I have to admit neither of these decisions were intentional. Actually, I cannot say I ever thought I would be doing Student Activities, and I really was looking for a new place to move. FSU and the Student Activities Center just seemed to make sense at the time.

Maybe that is or was enough. But what is my purpose? What do I really want to accomplish as a professional? Getting wrapped up in the job and not taking time to evaluate why you are doing what you are doing can be easy to let happen. I think I have some reflecting to do.

By no means am I unhappy with where I am right now. I know that I want to help students, and funny enough, the students I advise actually reminded me of how much I love working with them during our meeting tonight. However, I think I do need to take a step back to do some thinking...

Sidenote: For all my Student Affairs friends who read this, here is an interesting new website we were told about today during our session. It is called "Student Affairs OMG." Ethical issues anyone?

Beware of Seabears

This past weekend I went to St. George Island (which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to go) with a group of friends. I did not get the chance to take a real vacation over the summer. So I used this weekend to pretend and take a mini-vacation in the midst of a crazy beginning to fall semester. As expected, the weekend was pretty crazy. More than expected, the weekend was a great time. Unfortunately I did not take many pictures...actually, that is probably for the best.

Despite the little bit of flooded driveway/carport when we arrived, the house was awesome. The weather was nice for most of the weekend, with the exception of some sprinkles on Saturday afternoon. Although college football made that a little more bearable. It was great to relax, unwind, goof around, and get some more sunshine in my life. And super kudos to Meredith for coordinating the whole thing...getting us off our butts after talking about making a trip like this for a long time.

The best part was spending the weekend with some pretty great people. The trip made me realize even more how much they have been part of my experience here in Tallahassee. Honestly, I have some days I do not know how I would survive without them. Most of the time, we surround ourselves in just pure ridiculousness (hence the title of this blog), but most of the time, that is what I need. Thanks guys. Now can we hurry up and do this again?

Sometimes Webcomics Say it Best

Here's a fun comic from xkcd.com that well accompanies some of my previous posts about parking pet peeves:

The Spice of Life

Yesterday, Meredith and I went on a random road trip. Actually, it was more of Mer calling me to say she was in the mood to take a trip in her Jeep and I happily accompanied her. So, at 10:30 am, she picked me up and we just went. We had something of a plan, knowing that she wanted to take a route towards Lake Seminole. However, we did not really have a plan. We just went.

Our day trip turned into about seven hours of randomness. We covered three states: Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. We explored a random dirt road. We saw ridiculous billboards touting that abstinence education is the way to save our teenagers. We stopped to read historical markers. Around 1:30 we decided to find a roadside adventure for lunch. Our first attempt was when we both caught a sign for "The Crazy Bear."

How could we not stop there? Well, it was closed. Sad day. So we turned around and continued our trip. As we left, we saw a handmade wooden sign for the "Big Bad Wolf Saloon." Thus began attempt number two for lunch. So in Ft. Gaines, GA, we found the place to stop.

Not only did we find a place to eat, but we found a fabulous place to eat. The first sign of a good decision was number of motorcycles sitting outside. You know you have found a good place when (dot dot dot) and we did. Hands down, one of, if not the best burgers I have had since I moved. Completely a locals kind of restaurant/bar and owned by such nice people. Delicious.

After lunch, we started to head back toward Florida. We stopped at a gas station along the way and decided to grab some ice cream. Hint: do not try to eat an ice cream bar in August while driving a Jeep with the top down. After the ice cream, we stopped at some cute antique shops in downtown Havana. Then we headed home.

The morals of the story: do not waste a beautiful day inside, and you do not always need a plan. The weather was so gorgeous, and the trip was much needed therapy. Even on semi-planned trips, Mer and I are starting to be known for our random sidetracks (like the smallest church in America we found on our way to Columbia...or our history lessons on our way back from Jacksonville). But really, what could make a trip better?

Actually, you do not even have to leave town. Even today, Meredith, Kinsley, and I just made random trips around town that provided some pretty good entertainment. Plus, Meredith and I found an event downtown for the evening. Although, this event just made us realize 1) most local bands should not cover classics 2) people watching always makes good conversation and 3) Tallahassee has nothing on South Carolina when it comes to cheering for your team in a true traditional style. Sorry friends, but it is true.

Oh, and we never really saw Lake Seminole. Not that we needed to.