Hunke 1

Collegeissupposedtobethebestyearsofapersonslife.Somuchisgained,sacrificed,and
alteredtoattaintheultimateprizeacollegedegree.Formany,takingthosefirstfewstepsoutintothe
realworldcanbeafrighteningexperience.Collegeisaboutpreparingforthefuture.Formysenior
practicumcourse,thestudentshavebecomeapartofAcademicServiceLearning(ASL).Inessence,ASL
isabouthelpingstudentstransitionintotherealworldbyprovidingthemwithhandsonexperiencewith
anagencyoftheirchoiceandgivingthemtheopportunitytomakeconnectionsbetweentheclassroom
andthecommunity.Throughreflection,thestudentsmakerealizationsaboutthemselvesandtheworld
thattheymightnothaveknownpreviously.FormyASLproject,IhaveworkedwiththeCraneRiver
TheaterFamily.SteveBarth,mycommunitypartner,haselectedmetheAssistantAuditionCoordinator
forCraneRiver,assistingintheprocessofcastingCraneRiverssummershowsTheWizardofOz,
Oklahoma,andTuesdayswithMorrie.Throughoutthispaper,IshalldiscusswhatASLisinmoredetail,I
shallgiveabriefdescriptionaboutwhatCraneRiverisallabout,IshallrevealhowIhavemetmy
learningobjectivesputforthatthebeginningofthesemester,andIshallconcludebyexplainingmy
contributiontotheagency.
First,whatisAcademicServiceLearning?AccordingtoConcordiaUniversity,AcademicService
Learningistheapplicationofacademicskillsandknowledgetoaddressacommunityneed,issue,or
problemandtoenhancestudentlearning(ConcordiaUniversity,2016,para.1).Somemightthinkofan
internship.However,ASLdiffersfrominternshipsinthatthisserviceisnotjustamatterofreportingto
anofficetofulfillsomanyhours.WithASL,theknowledgegainedfromtheclassroom,andfroma
personsacademiccareer,isappliedtotheagency.AkeyelementofASLworkistheelementof
reflection,whichpermitsthestudenttomakepracticalconnectionsbetweentheagencyandthe
classroom,uncoveringpreviouslylatentknowledge(CarletonCollege,2015).Thiscanbedonewiththe
assistanceofjournaling.Asforme,Ihaveamassedovertwentyonejournalentries,eachexplainingwhat
Ididforthatday,whatIlearned,somequestionsIhad,andhowthatmayhaveconnectedtomy

Hunke 2
academics.ASLworkismeanttobemutuallybeneficialbetweenthecommunitypartnerandthestudent,
anditis,also,meanttofosteragreaterconnectionbetweentheuniversityandthecommunity(University
ofMaryland,2016).
CraneRiverisatheatricalcompanythathasservedthecommunityofKearneyNebraskasinceits
foundingin2009tobringappreciationandrespecttotheperformingarts.Itsorigincanbetracedbackto
thestoryofthreechildhoodfriendsBrookeBradford,SteveBarth,andBrianBotsford.Theygrewup
together,butfatedirectedthemonseparatepaths.Afterafewyears,destinyreunitedthem,andtheyput
theirlovefortheatre,music,andtheartsintothemakingofCraneRiver.CraneRiverhostslocaland
regionalauditionstocastseveralshowseachyearthatarepopularwiththesurroundingcommunity.
CraneRiversmissionreads,OurmissionistoservethecommunityofKearneyandsurroundingareas
asaprofessionaltheaterproductioncompanyprovidingahomeforthepresentation,education,and
promotionofthearts(CraneRiver:Enriching,2015).IbecameinterestedinTheaterwhenIwasin
highschool,butmypassionforactingwasrealizedduringmyfreshmanyear.WorkingwithCraneRiver
asanAssistantAuditionCoordinatorhashelpedmetoexpanduponmypassionforTheaterandthearts.I
metwithSteveinearlyJanuarytoexplorethepossibilityofworkingwithCraneformyASLexperience,
andwebegantodrawupmycontract.Withinthecontract,weestablishedsomeofmyduties,including
coordinatingwiththeArtisticDirector(SteveBarth)regardingcastingdecisions,assistingin
local/regionalauditions,becomingtheliaisonbetweenCraneRiverandtheauditionees,putting
togetherpacketsofinformationfortheapplicants,andassemblingallnecessarypaperwork(headshots,
biographies,contracts,conflictforms,W9s,NewHire,etc.).Shortlyafter,eachstudentwasgiventhe
taskofcreatinglearningobjectivesthattheysoughttolearn/accomplishduringtheirASLexperience.I
putforwardseveralobjectives,andIshalldiscusshowImetthem,howtheyconnecttotheclass,and
issuesImayhavecomeacross.

Hunke 3
ThefirstlearningobjectiveIproposedtoaccomplishduringmytimewithCraneRiverwasto
developacademicallyandtobuilduponmyskillsforafuturecareerbyenhancingmypersonal,physical,
andsocialskills.WhileIhaveaccomplishedthisgoal,Iamstillimprovinguponit.Ihavegrownasa
personunderCranestutelagebecauseofmyincreasedknowledgeintotheworkforce.Beforethisproject,
Iwasoneofthosestudentswhofearedlifebeyondcollege.WithCrane,Ihavebeengivenatasteofwhat
liesbeyondcollege.Ihavebecomecomfortableinprofessionalsettings,Ihavelearnedtospeakmymind
whenmyopinionissoughtafter,andIhavegainedconfidence.AsliaisontoCraneRiver,Ihavehadto
speakwithhundredsofnewpeoplethatIhadnotknownpreviously.Ihavehadtokeepincontactviae
mail,phone,text,etc.toinformthemofwhethertheywereacceptedorrejectedforoursummer
productions.Forthosewhowereaccepted,Ihadtomaintaincontactwiththemtoprovidethemwith
necessaryinformationasitwasmadeavailable.MysocialskillshavedevelopedduetothefactthatIam
becomingcomfortablewithspeakingtomultiplestrangersatonce.Ihavebecomeonewiththefamily,
makingitsoIamconnectingprofoundlywitheachapplicant.
SomechallengesIhavefacedincludecommunicatingwithemotion.AccordingtoMiller(2009),
shewroteaboutemotionintheworkplaceandappropriateemotiontoshow.Intheworkplace,oneis
supposedtoremaincool,calm,andcollected,butsinceweareemotionalbeings,thisisnotalwaysthe
case(Miller,2009).TherewereafewtimeswhenSteve,ormyself,cametoCraneoverstressed.This
createdadisconnectbetweenustothepointofmiscommunicationorsuppressionof
questions/expressions.Thisstresscanleadtoemotionthatisnotconsideredappropriate.Exampleswould
bewhenStevetoldmetostoptalkingsohecouldfocus,orwhenhedescribedhisirritationduetothecast
membersnotmeetingdeadlines.Theemotionalchapter,also,talkedaboutburnout.Burnoutoccurswhen
apersonhasmanydifferentrolesthatconflictwithoneanother(Miller,2009).Onepossiblewayto
combatburnoutistoengageinactivedecisionmaking,andwithCraneRiver,Iampermittedtodothat.
AccordingtoEmilyBennington,itisnotpracticaltoexpectaworkplacetobecompletelywithout

Hunke 4
emotion.Tryingtoappearincontrolandemotionlessforthesakeofprofessionalismcanbeasourceof
disconnectinitself.Benningtonadvisedtobeopenwithemotions,forthiswillgainthetrustof
employeesandemployers(Bennington,2016).Assuch,whileImayhavehadtroubleatfirstincoping
withStevesemotionaloutbursts,Irealizethatheishuman,anditisanormalprocess.AnotherissueI
havefacedwithemotionregardsasituationwhereIhadtotalkdownapersonwhentheydidnottake
beingrejectedwell.Ihadtoassurethemthatitwasnotpersonal,butthatwejusthadalargetalentpool.I
amnotgoodwithdeliveringbadnewsinthefirstplace.
TobecomeexposedtoavarietyofjobswithinthefieldofTheatrewasanotherobjectiveIwished
tomeet.Ihaveexperiencedthisfirsthand.Beforemycollegeexperience,Ihadonlyeverbeeninvolved
withactingonstage.Withinmycontract,Iwasgivenseveraldifferenttasks,includingdistributing
advertisingmaterial,attendingseverallocalauditions,creatingemailtemplatesmatchingcertain
contexts,fashioningseveralcastingcharts,keepingincontactwithourincomingapplicants,and
compilingallofthenecessarypaperworkneededforeachapplicant.Inbecomingexposedtothese
differentjobs,IhavebecomeinspiredtocontinuemysearchforTheatricalemploymentaftergraduation.
Myprimaryconcern/questionwiththisobjectiveiswhytheUniversityofNebraskaatKearneydoesnot
offereducationregardingwhatIamdoing.Theyeducateactors,directors,andtechnicalpositions,but
whenitcomestothebusinesssector,orthecastingsideofthings,thesefactorsseemedtobelumpedinto
othercategoriesorgivenlessattention.
Iamnotsurehowothersfeelaboutbusiness,butforme,Ihavealwaysbeenonedgearoundit.It
seemslikealotofpressure.However,Iwantedtoexplorehowbusinessandtheatercouldmergetogether
toeasemyanxietyinregardstobusiness.Ineverrealizedbeforehowmuchbusinessplaysapartin
theater.Ononeofmyfirstdaysintheoffice,SteveeducatedmeabouttheDropBoxsystem.DropBoxis
acomputerprogramthathouseseverydocumentthatCraneusesthroughouttheirseason.Hetookme
througheachfolderandinformedmewhatfilewaslocatedwhere.Itwasachallengetoretainthat

Hunke 5
information,butafterweeks,Ihavebeguntopullfilessubconsciously.Anotherwaythattheaterand
businessmergeisinregardstocontractinformation.Weconductedlocalandregionalauditionsforour
summershows.Thecontractsapplytothosewebringinfromoutsidethestate,orforthosehiredthrough
certainconditions.Therefore,SteveandIdevelopedasystem.Asliaison,Ireachedoutviaphone,email,
text,etc.tothoseweacceptedandaskedthemiftheywerestillinterestedinsummeremploymentwith
Crane.Iftheysaidyes,Imaintainedcontactandprovidedthemwithinformation,andSteveconducteda
followuptodiscusspaymentandcontractnegotiations.Steveandtheapplicanthadtotalkabout
payment,forifanapplicantwasdebatingabouttakinganotherjob,Stevemighthavealteredtherate,
dependinguponhowmuchhewantedthem.Anotherbusinessaspectdealtwithhousing.Wefaceda
majordilemmainregardstohousing.Eachseason,CraneRiverhasacertainamountofspaceforhousing
incomingmemberswithapartmentsandhotels.Cranehasroomtohousesixmenandsixwomen.Now,at
thetime,wehadselectedmostofwhowewantedtobringinthreegirlsandoneboy.However,weonly
hadroomleftforthreeboysandtwogirls.Weneededoneofourgirlstobeaguy,orweneededoneof
ourlightdirectorstohavefreereignofalloftheshows,butStevedidnotlikethatidea.Weutilized
decisionmakingstrategiesasstatedbyourclassreadingbyMiller.Accordingtothechapter,decision
makingisaprocessthatincludesdefiningaproblem,proposingseveralhypotheticalscenarios,testing
themtoseeiftheywouldwork,andacceptingtheonesthatworkandrejectingtheonesthatdonot
(Miller,2009).Wehadtheproblemofbalancingourhousingsituation,andweproposedchangingouta
girlforaguyorsettinguponeguytotakeonadditionalresponsibilities.Whennoneofourproposed
plansworked,wehadtostepawayandthinkitover.Stevewasstressedonthatnight,andthisemotional
turmoilledtoaninstanceofimpededwork.AmajorfearthatIfacedduringthistimeregardedapossible
futureinthislineofwork.Stevewasmakingthesetoughdecisionsfromyearsofexperience,butIam
freshofftheblock.WheneverIseesomeonedoatask,IwonderifIcoulddothattask.SeeingStevego
throughHousingandEmploymentcontractsseemsoverwhelming,and,attimes,itturnsmeoffthetrail

Hunke 6
ofbecominganythinglikeanAssistantAuditionCoordinator.Tocombatthisfear,Ijustrememberallof
thepositiveaspectsIhavecontributed.
Decisionmakingisdifficultbecause,oftentimes,thereisnosinglebestsolution.Thetrickisto
findthebestsolutionthatwillproducemorebenefitsthanlosses(Decisionmakingskills,2002).Steve
andIhaverunintothisissueaswell.Ourdecisionsarenotmadebecauseitisthesinglebestone,but
becauseitsatisfiesourgivenneeds.Furthermore,decisionmakingplaysaroleinthemostimportant
functionIhaveconductedatCraneRiver,andthatiscasting.Oncealloftheauditionsweredone,Steve
andIfacedthetaskofsortingeveryapplicantanddecidingwhetherornottheymetourneeds.ForThe
WizardofOz,TuesdayswithMorrie,andOklahoma,wesetupcategoriesalloverthefloor.Weseteach
characterthatweneededtocastinsections,andeachpersonthatfitthatrolewouldbeplacedunderit.
Wehadfourorfivepeopleundereachrole.Theproblemwasthatonecandidatemighthavethevoice
neededtosingastheburlyman,CurlyfromOklahoma,buthemightnotbeasstagedominantasanother
applicant.Oncewehadselectedourcandidates,itwastimetosetthetracks.Intheater,atrackiswhere
onepersonplaysacharacterinmultipleshows.Sincewearebringinginpeoplefromoutofstate,we
needthemtobeinbothofoursummershows,andthus,themanwhoplaysCurlyinOklahomamight,
also,playtheEmeraldCityGuardinWizard.Thesedecisionsarecrucialtotheentireprocedure,forifwe
pickthewrongone,thiswillimpactthesuccessandreceptionoftheshowuponthetown,andtherefore,
affectCraneRiversimpressionuponthecommunity.Anotherexampleofdecisionmakingcamewith
ourcostuming.Costumesareprettyexpensive,andwhenItalliedupthecost,weranoverbudget.
Therefore,wehadtomakeadecisionaboutwhatroles/costumestocut.Forthosewhowillplaymultiple
partsinashow,wecutoneofthemultipleparts,leavingthatindividualinourshow.
CraneRiverhassatisfiedanotherobjectivebyprovidingmewithknowledgethatwillhelpmein
myfutureofOrganizationalRelations.SomeofthemostimportantthingsIlearnedinclassincludethe
machine,humanrelations,andsystemsmetaphors.Themachinemetaphortalksaboutagenciesthathave

Hunke 7
specializations,orindividualswhoexcelatcertainfunctionstomakethewholerunsmoother.Withthis,
eachmemberisseenasreplaceablesincemachineshaveinterchangeableparts.Ifonepersonfailsto
perform,anothercantaketheirplace.Also,amachineispredictablesinceitfollowsstandardguidelines
(Miller,2009).Thehumanrelationsmetaphorlooksatanagencyandseeseachpersonasahumanbeing,
acknowledgingtheiremotions,feelings,andneedsasvalid.Inacknowledgingpeople,theseagencies
formafamilyunit,developingtheirownculture.Thesystemsmetaphorisrankedhierarchically,itis
interdependentinthefactthatachangeinoneaspectcanchangetheentireoperation,anditispermeable,
oropentoexternalinfluence(Miller,2009).IhavededucedthatCraneRiveracknowledgesthehuman
element,andtherefore,itisacultural/humanrelationsmetaphor.Duringoneaudition,InoticedthatSteve
talkedtothekidslikehehadknownthemforyears.Hewouldjokewiththemandtreatthemlikefamily.
Bythattime,IhadbeenwithCraneforafewweeks,soourpianist,Mrs.Bauer,andtheotherapplicants
begantoacknowledgeme,askmepersonalquestions,andtheyseemedtobeinterestedinme.Iamnota
socialpersonbytrade,butthismademefeelquitehappyduetotheinclusion.Craneishumanoriented
becauseofitspertinencetothecommunityandhowCraneRiverholdseventsthatbenefitthepeople.In
thissense,theyarepermeableasdictatedbythesystemsmetaphor.Evenwhenintheofficeworking,
SteveandIwillcrackjokesthatlightenthemood.AquestionIhaveforCraneiswhethertheysee
themselvesasdifferentfromotheragencies.Manyothersoperatealongthesystemsormachinemetaphor,
butCraneiseffectivebecauseofitsconnectiontothehumancondition.AnothertoolIhavegainedfrom
Craneistheabilitytofindthehappymediumbetweenprofessionalismandpersonability.Thisgaveme
thegreatestdifficultytoadaptto,forIamaveryprofessionalpersoninlife.Ittooksomecoachingto
altermystyle.WhenIbegan,Stevenoticedthatmanyofmyemailswereveryprofessional.Hesaidthat
thereasonCranewassopopularwasbecauseofourabilitytoretainprofessionalism,butconnectona
personallevel.Withhisguidance,Ilearnedhowtobalancethetwoandbecomemoreeffectiveinmy
communicationtactics.

Hunke 8
Asacommunicationsmajor,Istrivetoimprovemycommunicationskills,andworkingasa
liaisonwithCranehashelpedmedojustthat.AsliaisonbetweenCraneRiverandtheapplicants,itismy
dutytocommunicatewiththembycalling,sendingemails,texts,etc.Iftheysendinquiriesthroughe
mail,itismyjobtoanswertheirquestionspromptlyandefficiently.Inregardstotheemails,Ihave
createdtemplatesforcertainsituations.Forrejectionnotices,Icreatedatemplatesayingthattheywere
talented,butwecouldnotcastthem,andweencouragedthemtocomebackandworkwithusagain.If
weacceptedthem,Icongratulatedthemandtoldthemtheirpart.Ididsowiththeappropriatemixof
professionalismandpersonability.Inaddition,ourlocalauditionshavehelpedmetoimprovemyface
tofaceinteractions.IusedtobeextremelyshybeforeIgotintotheater,andnow,Cranehashelpedme
adjusttogroupsettings.ThisplaysintotheLeadershipchapterfromthetextbookbyMiller.Accordingto
Miller,leadershipiscreatedsociallyviainteractionsbetweenorganizationalactors(Miller,2009,
p.190).Throughinteractingwithothers,leadershipisexemplifiedwhenonecanleadotherstoproduce
resultsandaccomplishtasks(Miller,2009).OneofthegreatestskillsIhavedeveloped,withCrane,ismy
leadershipskills.Withinthepastfewweeks,Ihavetakenituponmyselftoaccomplishcertaintasks
withoutwaitingaroundforStevesapproval.Also,withourlastlocalaudition,Iwasleftinchargeofthe
applicantswaitingtobecalledin,soIhadtoassertmyselfintheseatofpowerbystandingtall,appearing
confident,andspeakinginanunwaveringvoice.Leadershipisexemplifiedbybeingclearwith
communication,controllingoutbursts,andremainingincontrolofasituation.Effectiveleadershipcalls
forappropriateresponsestoconstructivecriticism(TheKenBlanchardCompanies,n.d.).Duringthe
UNKaudition,Imadeafewerrorsinthepaperwork,andtheapplicantspointeditouttome.Insteadof
ignoringthem,Ithankedthemandconveyedmyhumanitytobuildrapportandrespect.Likewise,when
Stevetoldmetoaltermystyleawayfromstrictprofessionalism,Ilistenedandadapted.Morerecently,
wehadmeetingswherethoseacceptedtoplayinoursummershowshadtocomeandfilloutpaperwork
andreceivemoreinformation.Tomaketheprocesseasier,wesplitthegroupintothreesmallergroups.

Hunke 9
Onewouldfilloutthepaperwork,anotherwouldgetcostumemeasurementsrecorded,andthethird
wouldgettheirheadshottaken.Iwasinchargeofmanagingtheheadshotstationandrunningpeople
wheretheyneededtogo.IfearthatImayoverstepmyboundariesoneofthesetimes,butItrynottolet
thatdetractfrommyconfidence.
Withmebeingshyinthepast,Ihavewantedtoleavemycomfortzone.ThewaythatCranehas
helpedmetodothisisbyexposingmetosituationsthatwouldnormallymakemeuncomfortableor
nervous,ortoexposemetomanypeopleatonce.Thelocalauditionshadfiftyormorepeopleatany
giventime,sothatchallengedme.Duringmyfirstweek,whenIhungadvertisingpostersallaround
town,Iwasexposedtodiversegroupsofpeoplefromallwalksoflife.ThefirstchapterfromMillers
booktalkedabouttheconceptofdemographicsandhowitpertainedtothedescriptionsofpeople,
includingtheirage,race,gender,socioeconomicstatus,etc.(Miller,2009).WhenIstoppedinat
Valentinos,ItalkedtoaJapaneseman,andwhenIwenttotheChildrensMuseum,Ispoketotwo
women,oneolderandoneyounger,whoseemedlikemotherfigures.InoticedthatthewayIspokewith
thesepeopleseemedtochange.Understandingdemographicsprovidesnumerousadvantages.Forone,it
helpstounderstandthepeopleapersonistargeting.Bybecomingexposedtopeopleofdifferentraces,
ethnicities,etc.,oneisbecomingfamiliarwiththeirwayoflife,and,therefore,theycangearappropriate
rhetorictothem(Davis&Shannon,2011).TopullapagefromKennethBurkesbook,inknowingabout
thetargetaudience,onecanidentifyandconnectwiththemonadeeperlevel.Onespecificexampleof
pullingmefrommycomfortzonewaswhenIcalledoneofourapplicantstotellthemtheycouldnotbe
castforoursummershows.Whentheybegantocry,Iwasleftinabitofapickle.Idonotdowellwith
peoplewhocry,andIwasstilltryingtoupholdtheprofessionalrelationshipwiththeapplicant.Ididnot
knowhowtoreact,butIspentthenexttwentyminutestalkingthemdownfromthat.
OneofthemostimportantobjectivesIsetatthebeginningwasimprovingmycapacityfor
criticalthinking.Ourcastingchoicesareheavilycriticaldecisions.Ihadtodecidewhatqualitiesoftheir

Hunke 10
performanceIlikedandwhyitwouldbeagoodfitforourproductions.Didtheysingwell?Didthey
commandthespace?Didtheyseemtobelikable?Perhapstheirphysicalfeaturesweredesirable,buttheir
actingskillsleftsomethingtobedesired.Iwasgivenseveralopportunitiestomakecriticaldecisions
withoutStevetheretohelpme.ThefirsttimewaswhenIwashangingupposters.Ididnotknowwherea
particularplacewas,butIdidnotwanttocallSteveandaskhimtoguidemethere.Iwantedtofigureit
outonmyown.So,Idrovearound,stoppingintoplacesalongtheway,askingfordirections.Notonly
wasIcreatingasolutiontomyownproblem,butIwasimmersingmyselfaroundotherpeople,thereby
improvingmycommunicationskills.AnotherexamplecamewhenIarrivedattheofficeonedayand
Stevewasnotthere.Hewasdrivingbackfromaworkshop,andhehadnottoldmewhathewantedmeto
dothatday.Thisisanexampleofthedisconnectmentionedbefore.WhenIcheckedtheemail,Inoticed
thatseveralemailsthatIhadsentlasttimedidnotgothrough.Therefore,wehadabouttwentyfive
peopletocallandtellthattheyhadbeenrejected.IdebatedaboutwaitingforStevetogetback,thinking
thathemightwantmetodosomethingelse.Myprimaryfearwasthat,atthatpoint,Ihadnotmastered
thesubtle,kind,andprofessionalnaturethatdefinesCraneRiver.However,Itooktheinitiativeandmade
allthecalls,knowingthatthiswouldhelpSteveintheend.NotonlydidIprovemyselfaleaderbytaking
charge,butIsolvedtheissueonmyown.Withthecastingprocess,SteveandIhadtopickfourorfive
backupspercharacterrole,forifthefirstpersondroppedout,wewouldhavesomeoneelsetoturnto.
However,criticalthinkingcameinwhen,foronegiveninstance,ourtopthreechoicesbailedout.Not
onlydidthismeanwehadtofindnewperformersforthisspot,butthisthrewourtracksoffaswell.This
validatedmybeliefthatcontingencyplansarebest.Lastly,whenwewerebringingintechnicalpeople,
wehadtolookatwhatcombinationofskillstheypossessed.Somepeoplewerestagemangersand
costumedesigners,andsomewerejustcarpenters.Ideally,wewouldhavelikedtopickthosewiththe
morediverseskillcombinations,therebybringinginthemostskillinthefewestnumberofbodies.Thus,
wehadtocombinedifferentscenariostoseewhichwouldproducethebestresults.AccordingtoTanmay

Hunke 11
Vora,criticalthinkingisthepathtoclearthinking.Whenwewanttocommunicate,webeginwitha
thought,butthroughcriticalthinking,webuilduponthem.Withgoodleadership,criticalthinkingis
aboutthinkingquicklyintheheatofthemomentandbeingrational,reasonable,andclear/concise.(Vora,
2014).Therefore,inimprovingmycriticalthinkingskills,Iamhelpingmyleadershipskillsaswell.
Onelastobjectiveofmineregardstransitioningintotherealworldthroughthisproject.Thelaid
backnatureofcollegelifeandtheprofessionalatmosphereofarealworldjobisastarkcontrast.Crane
Riverhasallowedmetograduallyeaseintotheprofessionalworld.CraneRiverseeksdonationsand
grants,theyputonevents,theycastforshows,butatthesametime,Cranehasaveryeasyatmosphere,as
madeapparentbythemorecasualrelationshipbetweenSteveandI.Iusedtoviewtherealworldasa
cold,emotionlessplacewhereanykindofhumorwasabsent.WithCrane,Iseehowwrongthatopinion
was.Oneday,ImadeamistakewhenImissedsomeemailsthathadbeensentafewweeksearlier.Ihad
notrespondedtotheminatimelyfashion,andIhadfailedmydutyasaliaison.Steve,however,talked
medownandtaughtmethatanyproblemcanbefixed.Hehelpedmerealizethateveryonemakes
mistakes;weareonlyhuman.ThiswillhelpmeremaincalmwhenImakeamistakeintherealworld.
AnotherexamplewaswhenIdecidedtotaketheinitiativeandmakesomecallsanddosomethingsthat
Stevehadnotaskedmetodo.Whenhegotback,Iexpectedsomesortofrecognitionformyabilityto
takecharge,butitwasnotreceivedasIhadhoped.Thiswillhelpmetransitioninthefactthatnotallofa
personsworkwillbeformallyrecognized.Finally,onelastexamplewaswhenIstayedlateonenightto
finishfillingoutthecastlist.Istayedpastbyagoodhourandahalf,andthiswillhelpmetransitioninto
arealjobbecausemostjobsmightexpectanemployeetostaylateortaketheirworkhomewiththemto
work.
Overall,IhavefacedmanychallengesinmyquestatCrane,butIhave,also,gainedsomethings
aswell.Dealingwiththevaryingdegreesofemotionhaveproventobethemostdifficultaspecttoget
aroundduetothelevelofdisconnect,andalteringmywritingstyletomatchtheagendaofCranewas

Hunke 12
ratherdifficulttoadjustto.However,fromCrane,Ihaveperfectedmycommunicationskills,Ihave
becomemoresocial,Icanmultitaskmoreefficiently,Iamastrongerleader,andIhavebroughtmyown
knowledgetoCrane.Therewasonenightwhenweweretryingtofigureouthowtopermitthecastto
accessthemusicscore,andIwaspermittedtoassistStevewithhissmartphoneindealingwithmobile
applicationsandtechnologicalgadgetry.OneofthebestadvantagestoworkingwithCraneRiveristhe
connections.SteveBarthisaverysocialman,andhehastraveledaroundforregionalauditionsfor
severalyearsonbehalfofCraneRiver.WorkingwithStevehasopenedthedoortoarealmofinfinite
connections.Finally,knowledgethatIcouldstillgainregardtheworkingsofanonprofitorganization.
ThisincludesthespecificsofCraneRiverseducationalprograms,theireventsforthecommunity,and
theothersocialaspectsthatI,astheAssistantAuditionCoordinator,wasnotapartof.Iwanttocontinue
todevelopmypersonalskills,andIfeeltheseothereventswouldbeanenrichingwaytodothat.
AsformycontributiontoCraneRiver,Ihavecreatedawrittendocument/policyincludingallthat
IhavedonesinceearlyJanuaryuntilnow.ThispolicymaybereferencedinfutureseasonsbySteve
Barth,anotherindividualwithsimilarjobdescriptionsasI,oranyotherindividualdeemedworthybythe
ArtisticDirectoraboutwhatstepstotakeandwhen,whatordertofollow,tipstoconsider,etc.This
documentincludesasummationofCraneRiver,whatthepolicystates,whocanuseit,aglossary
consistingoftermsfoundinthetextthatmayneeddefining,howtocreatecertaindocumentsforcertain
situations,preparingfortheauditions(determiningshows,establishingsites,creatingtheaudition
process,distributingadvertisements,gatheringthenecessarydocuments,andcreatingatimeline),the
auditionprocessitself(printingtheformsneededandimplementingtheaudition/callback),andthepost
auditionprocess(somethingstoconsiderwhenchoosingparticipants,contactingtheappropriatepeople,
informingthemoftheirstatus,makingoffers,creatingthecastlist,technicalcasting,housing,contracts,
andconcludingwiththeInformationalMeetingsandhowtoprepareforthem).I,also,includedsample
documentsintheAppendicestoreferenceforfutureproductions.

Hunke 13
AcademicServiceLearningsdefinition,CraneRiversdescription,mylearningobjectivesthatI
havemetthankstoCraneRiver,andmycontributionhavebeendiscussedindetail.ASLprojectsproduce
somanybenefits,notjusttothestudent,buttothecommunityandagenciesaswell.Itisamysterythat
morestudentsdonottakepartinit.Lifebeyondcollegecanbeaterrifyingthing,andASLprojectsarean
invaluableexperiencetoprepare.Gainingtheeducationincollegeisonlyhalfthebattle.Theotherhalf
comesfromhandsonexperience,andthatishowAcademicServiceLearningcomesintoplay.

References

Hunke 14
Bennington,E.(2016).Managementskills:Managingemotionsintheworkplace.Retrievedfrom
http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hrbestpractices/smallbusiness/employeemotivation/emotionsin
theworkplace.aspx
CarletonCollege.(2015,March18).ServiceLearning

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http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/service/index.html
ConcordiaUniversity.(2016).Whatisacademicservicelearning.Retrievedfromhttp://www.cu
portland.edu/campuslife/officeserviceleadership/whatacademicservicelearning
Davis,A.,&Shannon,J.(2011).ThedefinitiveguidtoHRcommunication:Knowyouremployees.
Retrievedfromhttp://www.ftpress.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1681046

Miller,K.(2009).Organizationalcommunications:Approachesandprocesses.Wadsworth,
Boston.
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