Having the opportunity to participate in a fellowship during my master's program at Merrimack College was instrumental in my own personal development. While being a full-time student, I was a part-time staff member on campus as the Career Development & Learning Management Advisor in the O’Brien Center for Career Development. This experience enabled me to directly apply my course content in real time. Throughout the past year, I have crafted statements of practice, personal philosophies, research papers, and presentations that have allowed me to apply the theory that I have learned in class, to my own career.
Supporting Students Learning and Growth
I believe that as professionals in Student Affairs, it is our responsibility to support the learning and growth of our students. Through the course College Teaching & Learning, I was able to solidify my own beliefs about education. The culminating assignment for this course was to craft our own philosophy of education. Through this, I was able to articulate that as a professional in Higher Education, it is my responsibility to cultivate students that are eager to learn, and create a space where we are able to learn from one other. Learning through experience, and learning through difficulties is something that I hold important. I wish to create an environment where my students are not afraid to fail, but rather they are excited to learn. I am now able to recognize, that three competencies are addressed through my learning in this area; student learning and development, advising and supporting, and DEI. My goal is to ensure that all of my students continue to learn beyond the confines of the classroom, because I believe in holistic lifelong learning.
Larger Challenges In Higher Education
In order to best support the development of all of our students, we must fist understand the structure of higher education and why this structure exists the way that it does. In the course History of Higher Education in American Society, we analyzed and discussed the history of higher education in our America, and how it's problematic past has contributed to the present structure of our system. By studying this, I was able to gain a concrete understanding of the work that needs to be done moving forward to make post-secondary education attainable, accessible, and achievable for everyone. The Systematic exclusion of specific identity groups has occurred since the founding of Harvard University in 1636. Throughout time, exclusionary practices have continued. There are systemic issues that we need to address as future leaders in the field. In my final paper for History of Higher Education in American Society, I analyzed the history of Merrimack College, a private, catholic, liberal arts college. Through this I was able to synthesize my understanding of the course material and see the effects of our history on the campus today, and gain a foundational understanding of competency areas such as DEI, leadership, and organizational and human resources.
How I Will Address These Challenges
Throughout the past year, I have been able to define what leadership means to me, and how I want to lead in the field of Higher Education. In the course Introduction to Student Affairs, I crafted a paper which reflected upon my personal experiences as a student, as well as how I can use my experiences to help others experiencing similar things. Through thoughtful and extensive reflection, I have learned to define leadership for myself this year. For me, it is important that I am honest and transparent about my experiences with both colleagues and students that I interact with. Having been someone who struggled immensely throughout my own education, I never saw college as an option for me. I had no academic confidence, low self-confidence, and a fixed mindset because I struggled immensely. Now, as someone who overcame her struggles, and has not only earned a bachelor's degree but also a master’s degree, I can honestly say that I found my way. In sharing my story with students, I believe that it is important to remind them that I understand what it is like to be in their shoes. No one likes to struggle, and no one likes to struggle alone. I will lead my students by supporting them and having confidence in them while they work to find confidence in themselves.