Changing of the Guard... or How We Impact Lives Without Even Knowing It

I honestly never thought that I would be able to write a blog post that connected The Twilight Zone to academic advising but alas...here it is.

I stumbled across this episode tonight as I was working on finishing up an exam for student development theory. Please bear with the lack of blog postings.... I am almost done for the semester and with my Master's degree. In the midst of graduation and a new position at work, I am also trying to move into a new apartment and get insurance, retirement accounts, and all those other goodies set up as well...I wouldn't have it any other way though...

Back to the topic....

This episode made me realize that even though we might not think that we make a difference in student lives, we really do...sometimes in a very big way. It might not be because we helped them get into a class that they needed or because we helped them select a major...

It might be because we taught them how to think for themselves and "fish" for knowledge or that we pushed them to take that course in Ancient Greek that inspired them to study abroad...There are so many things that we (as advisors) say and do on a daily basis that impact and change lives...Our job is a very important one...

Take a few minutes and watch the episode...even if you aren't a Twilight Zone fan you will be able to relate.

Enjoy!

Personal Philosophy of Advising

Before I embark on my first professional academic advising position, I thought it might be useful to document what my personal philosophy of academic advising actually is. It will be interesting to look back upon it and see how it has evolved and changed. I would be interested in other's personal advising philosophies if they are willing to share. There isn't much to come by online and I'm not sure if any of my colleagues have theirs written down anywhere.

For me academic advising is not simply a day job; rather it is a lifestyle that one should adopt as holistically as possible in order to best serve students. Great advisors do not leave their offices at 5:00 pm and return again at 9:00 am. Rather, they check their email during the evening and respond to requests as soon as possible. They are constantly on the look out for news articles, university programming, and internet resources that may benefit their student population. They get up early during registration week to answer last minute questions or triage Sunday morning emergencies when a student doesn't get into any of the classes they have pre-selected. Great advisors are constantly looking out for innovative programs to adopt or new technology to use.

Goal-setting is also an integral part of my advising philosophy. I believe that one must know where they want to go if they ever want to get there. Each semester I try to come up with goals that I want to achieve and then assess them at the end. My supervisor doesn't require it, but it helps me to see where I am functioning and if I have overextended myself in a certain area.

Maintaining the same level of service day-in and day-out with student after student isn't always an easy feat, however it is one that we must strive for.  To do this, advisors must remind themselves to take time for themselves each day to recharge their batteries.  We can do this in a number of ways from just taking a walk at lunch time to engaging in professional development. Anything to get ourselves inspired and ready for the next student is what we should do. 

Above all, great advisors are student-centered. Everything we do is for them.