This weekend I was reminded of why I ended up in my career.
There was a really long period of time where I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but when I was in the classroom, I found I wasn't fulfilled. While I personally loved poetry, I hated trying to get the class I was student teaching with to learn the information. I struggled with how is this going to help them grow up and be good people... Especially when many of them were experiencing forms of abuse and neglect. I was more concerned with addressing their physical and emotional needs. It was hard to admit the career I thought was perfect for me was in fact totally wrong.
Between an awesome mentor and being involved on campus, I discovered that I could make working on a college campus a full time job. I earned my masters and started in a full time capacity in 2009. I've been so lucky to work with so many amazing college students since I began my masters in 2007. And this weekend was one of the best I've had in my role as a college administrator (not a fan of that term but at a loss of a better one).
Our team of approximately 50 between our orientation leaders, student coordinators and professional staff went on a retreat this weekend. Everyone was fully present, fully engaged and gave of themselves. The only time I heard complaining about being there was because of the cold when we were participating in a low ropes course outside in low 30-degree temperatures, but even then, they stayed involved despite the poor weather. We had incredible conversations about diversity, inclusion, privilege, access, opportunity. They worked through challenges in a variety of activities and had some hard and honest conversations when they were frustrated. And we did a lot of laughing and playing over funny quirks, toaster ovens and playing under a primary colored parachute.
And it all made sense.
It's easy to live life in a 'the grass is greener on the other side' and wonder what it would be like to have a career where I made a substantial salary, or get paid to travel all over the world on someone else's dime, or be able to take a month off during the summer. I may make some sacrifices but to me they aren't sacrifices. Because what I get from working with college students outweighs anything. Watching them develop. Watching them form a team. All the laughing. Being able to challenge them and not be angry as a result.
So while I am exhausted and relishing in the moments of silence and not having to speak today, I wouldn't trade any of it.
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