Final Blog Guys!

So if I think about all we have learned and talked about in class, I feel like my eyes have been opened to the complexity and history that is part of student affairs. Before, I only could draw from my own experiences with advising and career counseling in undergrad, but I had no idea how much thought went into the programming and the interaction with students. As one of our guest speakers said, "Oh wait, student affairs is a THING!"

When we were doing the readings about the Student Personnel Point of View, I felt like the idea of co-curricular programming and catering to the whole student were really exciting. I had never really thought about why I like student affairs and why I wanted to work in student affairs, other then I like helping people. However, the SPPV helped crystalize in my mind the goals and reasons why student affairs is so important to help with the development of the whole student. The support that student affairs professionals offer should be integrated and collaborative within the framework of academic study. 

I liked the modernity and the examples that were cited in LR and LR2. I especially liked the tables that outline Learning Outcomes in LR. How I wish I read this article before my interview with OMSS! I can only hope that the more I learn about the structure of student affairs and the ways in which programming is implemented, I will find a wonderful position helping students. 

One other thing that made me really excited about learning about student affairs was the idea of experiential learning. This was discussed extensively in are readings, especially WLOM. I had never really heard this term, but I think it encompasses everything that should intersect in high learning. It's about applying what you learn in the classroom to real life. It's a perfect example of integrating learning with identity building, skill building for future careers, and helping students make meaning. One really exciting light bulb moment for me was making the connection between study abroad and whole student learning. I viewed studying abroad in Chile as an amazing opportunity, but it would have been so much more amazing if I had understood the connection between classroom learning and the learning outside the classroom. I would love to develop something within a study abroad program that integrated learning (such as a seminar taken over the course of study) with excursions or  service learning in the host city. 

Overall, everything that we have learning about just makes me so excited to learn about all the different paths I can pursue to help the whole student. And it also makes me excited to see how many passionate future professionals there are in our class who are going to do great things with helping students. Snaps all around.

Enjoy Summer! Only too soon until Fall Quarter reconsidered.

Amanda Grant