November 30, 2010---
As I grow another year older, I realize I have not taken the time to write or reflect on my experiences since the summer. With this in mind, I begin to think, “who is the guy that I see now compared to the one who graduated in 2009.” When I last wrote, I began preparing for my departure from Chi Phi Fraternity and begin my new journey as a graduate student at Florida State University. Obviously, life has changed in the course of four or five months.
First, I must thank the Chi Phi National Staff for an excellent tenure with the organization as well as supporting me in my efforts to ensure the successful execution of the 145th Chi Phi Congress in Boston, Massachusetts. The experiences from my first professional position allowed me the chance to grow in a multitude of ways, especially as a well-rounded individual. No experience has allowed me to ask questions, make changes, and grow from successes and educational moments (remember, I do not believe in failure).
Next, I moved to Tallahassee, Florida, this experience was my first move outside of Georgia in twenty-three years. I thought that I would enjoy the moving process but I did not it made me anxious, nervous, and worried about what the future held for me in a new environment. For the first time, I felt vulnerable to the experience. Most of those emotions stemmed from being in a new place, new people, new job, and new educational experiences. Also, I worried how would it be to live with someone who I had little knowledge or information about from the other side of the country. Chad has turned out to be one of the most interesting people to live with. Of course, we have our moments but he and I support each other in our journey at Florida State University. I am so glad to call him my confidant and friend. I look forward to what the future holds in “the Bungalow.”
In the beginning of August, I began my position as a graduate student at the Center for Leadership and Civic Education. I will tell you as much as I felt nervous I found a network of professionals and students that are truly committed to their experience and ensuring the success of both undergraduates and community advancement. I work with service learning in multiple facets. I assist faculty in preparation of service learning course by research and syllabi development. Additionally, I work with honors student through the service-learning project. I am excited for my first group of student to advise next semester through the honors project. With the excitement building, I cannot forget to mention that I am rigorously working on Florida State University’s President’s Honor Roll application. If you are not aware of the program, it is a national award given by President Obama to college and university campuses that are making measurable impact in the community. Once that comes to an end, I will be gearing up for my opportunity to work with our Outreach program in the spring and help develop stronger relations with our agencies and students, especially working with facilitators and reflection from the outreach experience.
As the semester comes to close, I have found myself challenged and excited to see what the future holds and the Center for Leadership and Civic Education. I find that they act as “family” and allow me to cry, smile, and scream in anger and excitement. To all of you, I am so thankful for you in my life, especially my supervisors, Ms. Elizabeth Swiman and Dr. Steve Mills.
Aside from my assistantship, I have been taking 9 hours of graduate level course work. Courses are a bit different from undergraduate work; however, I enjoy the reading and have learned to reflect and be intentional about each item I participate in through the Higher Education program. I am blessed to know that the professors realize emotions and life; thus, it allows me to explore options and ways to grow as a person and a professional. Dr. Guthrie and Dr. Schwartz-thank you for believing in me and allowing me to test my boundaries in certain areas of expertise and research.
Overall, this experience has been a barrel of emotions but as Corey Smith states in one of his songs, “ If I could do it all over again, I would do it all the same.” I know that when I leave Florida State University I will be one of the most prepared professionals for the student affairs field. I am excited for the next steps I take in the next few months and hope to discover more about who I am as a professional and the philosophy that I strive to live by as a professional. Twenty-three years have come and continue but I look forward to learning, growing, and impacting the world. Thanks for reading and hope to have another exciting blog after the AFA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.
