14 Days to Departure

As many of you may know, I am, as part of the completion of my internship credits for my grad program, going to the UK to study student affairs and higher education abroad.  Last time I was in the UK I sent emails and frequently forgot to include people, which caused some ruffled feathers.  This time I have taken inspiration from one of my fantastic undergrad literature professors, Stacey Donohue who, with her husband Mike, is set to embark on a month long adventure to Italy and have created a blog to both communicate and reflect on their holistic experience.  I decided to be a copy cat and create my own blog. 

This will serve as a reflection journal, part of the academic requirements for the internship course I am taking, as well as a way to keep touch with those interested in what I am seeing and doing.  For those of you tuning in just to read about my experiences and observations, you will have to wade through some (hopefully) deep, meaningful reflections on the experience from an academic standpoint.   For those of you seeking just the deep, meaningful stuff, you will have to endure some of the fluff writing of which I am so fond. 

 

Also, I realize I am preparing to leave a program full of colleagues and friends that I have gained over the past two years – this blog may become a permanent fixture of my life in order to keep in touch with everyone.  Who knows – still contemplating the permanence of this kind of technology in my life/trying to decide if I have the required attention span. 

 

This is an experience about which I am very excited.  I have been to the United Kingdom before, but I expect this experience to be drastically different ~ not necessarily better but different.  The last time I was in the UK was weeks before moving to Corvallis for grad school, this time I am going with an academic purpose which I know will influence my perceptions and experiences.  I started thinking a few days ago more intentionally about this experience on which I am about to embark and began to wonder about how identity development is affected by different organizational structures within higher education.  I know some of you are rolling your eyes and groaning and Beth is smiling and nodding her head, but think about it.  My international students (UK, New Zealand, China, and Kuwait) have told me for two years that the American Higher Education environment is much more supportive (the word “coddle” has been bandied about) than that of their home countries.  One student has told me his department just turned him loose and expected him to figure it out on his own – one advising meeting and in their eyes he was good to go.    We know development and indeed success happens with or without a student affairs professional around.  Why then is the American system of higher education set up as it is?  What about our culture and societal structure that makes this profession and the involvement we have in student’s lives so important?  I’m sure someone out there would ask if we are even important…to which I have thoughts and opinions that I shall keep to myself – Thumper’s rule and all that.  J

 

Another thing that has given me pause to question theories is what my international students have told me about their involvement on their home campuses.  All of them have reported no involvement with clubs and organizations on campus.  Astin posits that involvement directly correlates and contributes to student success.  Each of the international students I have spoken to specifically about this topic report better grades at their home institutions than here where they are far more involved.  I understand there are a variety of factors, including the fact that “success” has not been defined, that could contribute to this but on the surface it does lead me to question the application of the involvement theory to our international students.  Does it appropriately challenge our students?  What do we need to do to support them?  If indeed the needs and transitions of these students different from the students who come to us from a few miles up the road or a couple of states away, what are we doing to support them?  Furthermore, how does their time within the United States affect their identity development?  Look at that!  Add a little marginality versus mattering and all my favorite basic theories have been covered in four questions! 

 

Anyway, I am looking forward to this experience though I find myself sad that I will be missing a big chunk of spring on the Southside with my RAs and residents.  My favorite season is fall but my favorite academic season is spring.  I feel so honored to be a part of my students’ lives and spring term showcases all the growth and change of the year.  It is such a reflective time for me.  I watched these amazing people move in – some a little scared, a little unsure, some very excited to start a new year and reconnect with friends, others with fears of never making friends or fitting in.  Now they are talking jobs, internships, passions, renting their first home or apartment – it’s all such an honor to be a part of. 

 

Until next time…..