Havinggonethroughthiseportfoliohasreallygivenmeachancetoreflecton

justhowmuchworkIveputtowardsmyprogram.ThroughoutmytimehereIvelearned
anumberofthings.Thereisnounconventionalwaytobesuccessfulinhighereducation
thereareanumberoffactorsonemusttakeintoconsiderationtofullyunderstandthe
scopeofwhereoneliesininstitutionandwhereonesvaluesaligntobesuccessful.I
knowinmypastexperienceworkinginthefieldthishasbeensomethingthatIve
struggledwith.
Duringmytimeasagraduatestudent,Iworkedinresidencelife,leadership
development,communications,andadmissions.Ivelearnedalotholdingthesedifferent
positionsinthatthevaluesandexpectationsaredifferentineachroleandasprofessional
youhavetobeabletomanagethat.ThroughouttheseexperienceIveobserved
interpersonalskills,abilitytobeaselfstarter,andinitiativearethewaysinwhichyou
growanddevelopasanindividual.Iknowthatattimesonecangetcomplacentwithin
theirroleandjustcontinuetodothedaytodayactivitiesandwontbranchoutfromthat
point.IknowIvebeenguiltyofthisbecauseattimestherewouldbeopportunitiesto
joinanothercommitteeortakeonaninitiativeandletthoseopportunitiesgoduetobeing
afraid.Iwasintimidatedbytakingonnewresponsibilitiesthatwereoutsideofmy
comfortzonebecauseIwouldfearthatIwouldfail.OverthepastyearIverealizedthis
andhavetakenstepstochangethatmindsetandthatsalsoimportanttorealizeasImove
forwardinthefield.
Ibelievethemostimportantthingthataprofessionalinhighereducationhasto
haveistheabilitytoadapttochangeswithintheirenvironment.MoreoftenthannotIve

workedindepartmentswherethereisconstantchangeinpersonnelandwithchange
employeescomechangesinpolicyandprocedures.Ithinkthatonehastobeabletobe
awareofthosechangesandfindawaytonavigatethat.InsomedepartmentsIveworked
intherewasafreeflowofcommunicationsthatoccurredanditwaseasytovoice
concerns.Ontheotherhandtherehavebeendepartmentswhereitwasnotwidely
acceptabletovoiceyouropinion.Ithinkitsimportanttoknowhowtoworkaround
thoseissuesandfindotherstosupportyouwhetherthatisasupervisororapeer.
Inordertocontinuetodevelopasaprofessionalisgoingtobepivotalespecially
asImovetowardssupervisingothergraduatestudents.Iplantolearnalongsidethemin
ordertokeepcurrentwithtrendsinhighereducationandbeabletohelpthemdevelopas
anewprofessionals.Mygoalsforthefutureincludebeingabletopresentatanational
conferenceandserveonaTitleIXcommittee.ThesearethingsIvealwaysbeen
interested,butneverhadaclearcutroutetogetthere.Ithinkmovingforwardismaking
suretowritethesegoalsdownandspeakaboutthemopenlywithasupervisorandpeerto
makesureIgetitdone.Thiswillkeepmeaccountabletomyselfandpushmetomove
forward.ItsimportanttorealizethatIwillgetbusywithwork,butitsonmetomake
surethatIkeepstrivingtodevelopandgrowandIplantodothatbyseekingout
opportunitiesandaskingforhelpwhenneedbe.