In related news to the previous post, a big theme in our field--and I suspect many others--is "work-life balance". A conversation I had not too long ago led me to take a look at that term a bit.
In the aforementioned chat, someone brought forth the term "work-life negotiation," emphasizing the constant give and take of the two roles. That said, there's a new term I prefer: Job-home balance. The way I see it, my life is exactly that, my life, all-encompassing. As such, my work is naturally part of that. I'm not striking balance between two things, because those two things, by their very nature intersect and overlap. Job-home balance, however, means to me that I do my best to keep my home life at home and my job in (and around) the office. This is the balance I seek to strike.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
It could drive a guy crazy!
When I began this blogging endeavor, you'l recall I made no promises as to how often you'd hear from me, but I figured I'd bubble up from time to time when I had a topic upon which I felt the need to expound. Got one!
The topic for today's #sachat was "Mental Health of Student Affairs professionals," as voted upon by participants and followers of @The_SA_Blog. I intended to participate, as I usually do when I'm free, and this topic was of particular interest: I have an undergraduate degree in psychology in addition to my graduate degree in student affairs; I'm married to a counselor, and there's mental illness in my family. So with that in mind, and knowing that "mental health" means different things to different people, I asked a simple question:
The topic for today's #sachat was "Mental Health of Student Affairs professionals," as voted upon by participants and followers of @The_SA_Blog. I intended to participate, as I usually do when I'm free, and this topic was of particular interest: I have an undergraduate degree in psychology in addition to my graduate degree in student affairs; I'm married to a counselor, and there's mental illness in my family. So with that in mind, and knowing that "mental health" means different things to different people, I asked a simple question:
Question: Are we talking "Mental Health" as in "I don't feel at my best when...", stress, etc., or actual psychopathology? #sachat
Never was there an answer. In defense of this session's mod, it was quite clear in her questioning that she was allowing the community to take ownership in the definition, but there was quite a bit of confusion. Consider that "health" has two well-accepted definitions: One is the overarching field, while the other is [good] health, as in being healthy. The same is true with mental health, which was pointed out by folks engaged in the chat sharing two different definitions from two different NIH sources. As such, in the conversation, some were referring to things such as work-life balance and on-the-job stress, while others were speaking counseling and medication.
The distinction is, to me a big one; the methods for dealing with both are quite different. Many in our field are qualified/trained in counseling-related fields, but in most cases, we are not counselors. The trouble is that we are a helping profession, sometimes to a fault. It is important for us to know that which is beyond us and needs referring out, and depending on which definition of mental health you are answering for, those answers can be different. To compound things, it seemed to me that when speaking of simple stress, platitudes regarding work-life balance, taking time to oneself, and destressing techniques abounded, making bits of the conversation seem like a chat with a pullstring toy. I was sharing this frustration both off of the tag on Twitter and in a chat window; as I said there, "I've probably dropped more curses into a chat window in one sitting in the past hour than I ever have on my work account."
Why, it was enough to drive a guy mad.
The distinction is, to me a big one; the methods for dealing with both are quite different. Many in our field are qualified/trained in counseling-related fields, but in most cases, we are not counselors. The trouble is that we are a helping profession, sometimes to a fault. It is important for us to know that which is beyond us and needs referring out, and depending on which definition of mental health you are answering for, those answers can be different. To compound things, it seemed to me that when speaking of simple stress, platitudes regarding work-life balance, taking time to oneself, and destressing techniques abounded, making bits of the conversation seem like a chat with a pullstring toy. I was sharing this frustration both off of the tag on Twitter and in a chat window; as I said there, "I've probably dropped more curses into a chat window in one sitting in the past hour than I ever have on my work account."
Why, it was enough to drive a guy mad.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
How are you spending your summer?
--or-- Worlds Colliding!
While our campus isn't as vibrant with student activity as it is during the standard academic year, I've still got fairly regular contact with students; some are on campus for summer session, others are members of my program board or fraternity with whom I stay in touch. A common thread for many over the summer--as it is for many, but fewer, during the school year--is that they are working. For some, it's merely what one does during the summer, but for all it's a way to earn money, be it towards personal luxuries, necessities, or the cost of attending school.
If you don't know me personally, you may not be aware that I am a self-professed band nerd (this is where I plug the other blog). For me, that means that summer means drum corps season, specifically Drum Corps International. For those who are unfamiliar, the corps that make up DCI comprise up to 150 brass players, percussionists and color guard members who tour the country competing against other corps for approximately eight weeks each summer. Most of the more prominent corps are made up of members from across the country, typically also members of their high school and college marching bands. While the numbers of those participating in World Class (the highest level of competition) corps number just better than 3,000 nationwide, with most participants aged 17-21, these are our students.
While I enjoy DCI from an entertainment aspect, the student development piece is certainly not lost on me. Each of the participants is engaging in leadership, teamwork, progress towards a common goal, and a quest for excellence, and to a person, drum corps participants would tell you that it is an experience unlike any other. Add to that the continuing of arts education, and drum corps is truly an exercise in student learning.
Herein lies the rub: It doesn't come cheap. The average cost for drum corps participants is just north of $3,000 per summer, which says nothing of possible private lessons or other opportunities that have been undertaken throughout their lives to get them to the level of competing at a World Class level. While various scholarships and programs are available for to offset and reduce costs, there is another piece of the puzzle that isn't told: Remember those students I mentioned to you that spend their summers working? Those who dedicate their summers to marching don't have that opportunity. This means that even if the costs of corps tuition can be met, drum corps may still exclude those who need to work over the summer to afford school or otherwise make ends meet. Sadly, participation in the activity is simply not accessible to everyone.
When we look at what we offer in student affairs, so often the opportunities we provide are free (or "free" as they may be student fee funded). While this helps our students, it is only one piece of the puzzle. What do our students have to give up to participate in our programs? Are we able to make it worth their time? Or do we find ourselves catering solely to the students who can "afford" it?
While our campus isn't as vibrant with student activity as it is during the standard academic year, I've still got fairly regular contact with students; some are on campus for summer session, others are members of my program board or fraternity with whom I stay in touch. A common thread for many over the summer--as it is for many, but fewer, during the school year--is that they are working. For some, it's merely what one does during the summer, but for all it's a way to earn money, be it towards personal luxuries, necessities, or the cost of attending school.
If you don't know me personally, you may not be aware that I am a self-professed band nerd (this is where I plug the other blog). For me, that means that summer means drum corps season, specifically Drum Corps International. For those who are unfamiliar, the corps that make up DCI comprise up to 150 brass players, percussionists and color guard members who tour the country competing against other corps for approximately eight weeks each summer. Most of the more prominent corps are made up of members from across the country, typically also members of their high school and college marching bands. While the numbers of those participating in World Class (the highest level of competition) corps number just better than 3,000 nationwide, with most participants aged 17-21, these are our students.
While I enjoy DCI from an entertainment aspect, the student development piece is certainly not lost on me. Each of the participants is engaging in leadership, teamwork, progress towards a common goal, and a quest for excellence, and to a person, drum corps participants would tell you that it is an experience unlike any other. Add to that the continuing of arts education, and drum corps is truly an exercise in student learning.
Herein lies the rub: It doesn't come cheap. The average cost for drum corps participants is just north of $3,000 per summer, which says nothing of possible private lessons or other opportunities that have been undertaken throughout their lives to get them to the level of competing at a World Class level. While various scholarships and programs are available for to offset and reduce costs, there is another piece of the puzzle that isn't told: Remember those students I mentioned to you that spend their summers working? Those who dedicate their summers to marching don't have that opportunity. This means that even if the costs of corps tuition can be met, drum corps may still exclude those who need to work over the summer to afford school or otherwise make ends meet. Sadly, participation in the activity is simply not accessible to everyone.
When we look at what we offer in student affairs, so often the opportunities we provide are free (or "free" as they may be student fee funded). While this helps our students, it is only one piece of the puzzle. What do our students have to give up to participate in our programs? Are we able to make it worth their time? Or do we find ourselves catering solely to the students who can "afford" it?
Friday, June 24, 2011
It All Comes Together
It was recently announced that at my dear alma mater, UMBC, The Athletics Department would become a part of the Division of Student Affairs. It is a worlds colliding moment of two pieces of the University I love.
Those of you who know me professionally may be surprised to learn that the involvement experience that got me into the field of student affairs didn't come from the world of student activities. In fact, the folks in the Office of Student Life at UMBC may be hard-pressed to recall my name. But there were two constants in my undergraduate experience that helped guide me to where I am today: Residential Life and UMBC Athletics.
I began my involvement in ResLife as a freshman, joining Hall Council of my residence hall. Being acquainted with the paraprofessional and professional staff led me to seek employment at our hall's front desk, and the rest, as they say, is history. I worked desk staff as a sophomore, became an RA junior year, and served as desk manager my senior year, Like so many of us in the field, this experience was part of what ultimately led me into student affairs.
But it wasn't the only part. Across campus, I was a drummer for the pep band, which played at home men's and women's basketball games, other events through campus (including the occasional chess team pep rally), and traveled to select local contests (who remembers the Battle of Baltimore Classic?) and conference tournaments. While we weren't a student organization in Student Life terms, this was one of the primary ways I was engaged in campus and a key leadership experience, as I served as a group leader and student director. During my time with the pep band, we would mobilize the unit for the first time in the 2002 Hoemcoming parade and plant the seeds for what would become UMBC's first ever drumline.
For me, this new marriage makes absolute sense. Interestingly enough, Nancy Young, the Vice President for Student Affairs, was the Director for Residential Life while I was there, and Charles Brown, the Athletic Director (and soon to be Associate VPSA) was there during my time as well, so this brings together not only two areas that were critical to my development, but also two individuals who I worked under in these areas. I also know that both have been supportive of one another, even before this reorganization.
I will note that this is the sort of move that I'd otherwise be inclined to give the side-eye to; I have strong reservations about athletics departments, which typically generate some sort of revenue, sublimating in ways that allow them to have their cake and eat it too, especially with regards to student fees, a much sought after resource in tough financial times. Still, it is worth noting that at UMBC, the Athletics Department is actually Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, and is both curricular and co-curricular in nature. Areas under Dr. Brown's supervision, in addition to intercollegiate athletics, include campus recreation, intramurals, and club sports--often housed within Student Affairs anyway-- as well as the physical education courses. And while I'm not sure if Dr. Brown sits on the president's cabinet or not, this move takes Athletics not from being a standalone division but rather from the Academic Affairs arena, where it has been housed since 2003. For us--and yes, UMBC will always be "us"--This seems to be a move that makes sense.
Those of you who know me professionally may be surprised to learn that the involvement experience that got me into the field of student affairs didn't come from the world of student activities. In fact, the folks in the Office of Student Life at UMBC may be hard-pressed to recall my name. But there were two constants in my undergraduate experience that helped guide me to where I am today: Residential Life and UMBC Athletics.
I began my involvement in ResLife as a freshman, joining Hall Council of my residence hall. Being acquainted with the paraprofessional and professional staff led me to seek employment at our hall's front desk, and the rest, as they say, is history. I worked desk staff as a sophomore, became an RA junior year, and served as desk manager my senior year, Like so many of us in the field, this experience was part of what ultimately led me into student affairs.
But it wasn't the only part. Across campus, I was a drummer for the pep band, which played at home men's and women's basketball games, other events through campus (including the occasional chess team pep rally), and traveled to select local contests (who remembers the Battle of Baltimore Classic?) and conference tournaments. While we weren't a student organization in Student Life terms, this was one of the primary ways I was engaged in campus and a key leadership experience, as I served as a group leader and student director. During my time with the pep band, we would mobilize the unit for the first time in the 2002 Hoemcoming parade and plant the seeds for what would become UMBC's first ever drumline.
For me, this new marriage makes absolute sense. Interestingly enough, Nancy Young, the Vice President for Student Affairs, was the Director for Residential Life while I was there, and Charles Brown, the Athletic Director (and soon to be Associate VPSA) was there during my time as well, so this brings together not only two areas that were critical to my development, but also two individuals who I worked under in these areas. I also know that both have been supportive of one another, even before this reorganization.
I will note that this is the sort of move that I'd otherwise be inclined to give the side-eye to; I have strong reservations about athletics departments, which typically generate some sort of revenue, sublimating in ways that allow them to have their cake and eat it too, especially with regards to student fees, a much sought after resource in tough financial times. Still, it is worth noting that at UMBC, the Athletics Department is actually Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, and is both curricular and co-curricular in nature. Areas under Dr. Brown's supervision, in addition to intercollegiate athletics, include campus recreation, intramurals, and club sports--often housed within Student Affairs anyway-- as well as the physical education courses. And while I'm not sure if Dr. Brown sits on the president's cabinet or not, this move takes Athletics not from being a standalone division but rather from the Academic Affairs arena, where it has been housed since 2003. For us--and yes, UMBC will always be "us"--This seems to be a move that makes sense.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Happy Father's Day
This past weekend, I celebrated my first Father's Day on the dad side; my daughter was born back in March. Not surprisingly, I received various message via Facebook and other means wishing me a Happy Father's Day. One of the most meaningful was this, from a recent student of mine:
"SPECIAL S/O to you today!!! You may technically be a new daddy, but you've fathered many and been a true blessing. Thank you on behave[sic] of all your unofficial children."
It was subsequently liked by another recent student of mine. For the briefest of moments I thought, wait? Fathered? I'm just shy of 30, have been in the profession about six years, and have less than a decade on most of my students up to the point. I can't be big brother? Cool uncle? I quickly realized, however, that if my students are making that reference, I'm doing something right. The cool uncle might give you a puff of his cigarette or a taste of his beer. A big brother might beat you up, or become your best friend. But a parent--the best kind, anyway--is there for you through thick and thin, educating, supporting, waving pompoms at your soccer game or disciplining when necessary. So as I sit here like a proud poppa of the achievements of my students past and present, it's a "#1 Dad" hat I'll gladly wear.
"SPECIAL S/O to you today!!! You may technically be a new daddy, but you've fathered many and been a true blessing. Thank you on behave[sic] of all your unofficial children."
It was subsequently liked by another recent student of mine. For the briefest of moments I thought, wait? Fathered? I'm just shy of 30, have been in the profession about six years, and have less than a decade on most of my students up to the point. I can't be big brother? Cool uncle? I quickly realized, however, that if my students are making that reference, I'm doing something right. The cool uncle might give you a puff of his cigarette or a taste of his beer. A big brother might beat you up, or become your best friend. But a parent--the best kind, anyway--is there for you through thick and thin, educating, supporting, waving pompoms at your soccer game or disciplining when necessary. So as I sit here like a proud poppa of the achievements of my students past and present, it's a "#1 Dad" hat I'll gladly wear.
What The Hell Am I Doing Here?
Title with all due respect to Radiohead and the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps' 2011 production, which is fresh on my mind.
So I won't lie to you. I know plenty of friends and colleagues of mine have student affairs-centric blogs, but I didn't see myself ever going that route. After a few consecutive thoughts of "I really ought to write about that", I thought I'd go ahead and dive in.
Make no mistake, I'm no stranger to the medium. I'm ten years deep in the blog* game, maintaining a LiveJournal for most of that time and starting the content that would evolve into 80 Minutes of Regulation back in 2007. Still, it's long been my stance that I blog my hobbies, not my profession. As I mentioned above, a few recent ideas for posts necessitated a place to put them, so here we stand. I don't know at this juncture how prolific I'll be, but I'm stepping into the ring.
The title is derived from a phrase I have often uttered about my role in the field of student affairs, specifically campus activities: I am an educator first; programmer second. Sometimes, it's a close second. Time will tell if this becomes a "close second" to my other blogging pursuits.
*I want to go on record: I actually hate the word "blog". Its etymology involves putting two words together and splitting them up again at a previously unagreed-to spot. I'll also note that while many do not, I draw a distinction between my LiveJournal, in which I wrote about myself, and my blogs, in which I write about stuff.
So I won't lie to you. I know plenty of friends and colleagues of mine have student affairs-centric blogs, but I didn't see myself ever going that route. After a few consecutive thoughts of "I really ought to write about that", I thought I'd go ahead and dive in.
Make no mistake, I'm no stranger to the medium. I'm ten years deep in the blog* game, maintaining a LiveJournal for most of that time and starting the content that would evolve into 80 Minutes of Regulation back in 2007. Still, it's long been my stance that I blog my hobbies, not my profession. As I mentioned above, a few recent ideas for posts necessitated a place to put them, so here we stand. I don't know at this juncture how prolific I'll be, but I'm stepping into the ring.
The title is derived from a phrase I have often uttered about my role in the field of student affairs, specifically campus activities: I am an educator first; programmer second. Sometimes, it's a close second. Time will tell if this becomes a "close second" to my other blogging pursuits.
*I want to go on record: I actually hate the word "blog". Its etymology involves putting two words together and splitting them up again at a previously unagreed-to spot. I'll also note that while many do not, I draw a distinction between my LiveJournal, in which I wrote about myself, and my blogs, in which I write about stuff.
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