In my experience in Student Affairs, I’ve met two kinds of people:
Those who enter Student Affairs, love it, and stay in the field
Those who enter Student Affairs, realize it’s not for them, and leave to find their calling
I’m in a special class of professionals who left, thought I found my calling, realized I ALREADY had my calling and left, and came back. And that poses a unique set of challenges.
For the past 4 years, I was a teacher in East Oakland, and eventually moved into an administrative role at two different public schools in Oakland. It was incredibly stressful and frustrating, but at times absolutely rewarding. Some of my students went through situations and circumstances that amaze the mind. Even under incredible duress, kids would still turn in their homework and thrive in an academic environment. However, after 4 years working in chaotic situations, I came to the realization that my calling was actually in Student Affairs. I actually missed icebreakers, late night student org meetings, res hall welfare checks, and the numerous leadership retreats. I hated the fact that I would be leaving the kids, but I had to do something for myself. After I talked with a school principal about moving back into Higher Education, he told me “if that’s your passion, the kids here will definitely understand. You’ve been good to them, and they only want the best for you.”
The process to get back into Student Affairs was pretty arduous and it is going to take time to readjust. My recent experiences are vastly different than when I was in Student Affairs. How do you explain how to program a diversity education seminar when you’ve been breaking up fights between 7th grade girls for the past 4 years? How does it sound when someone asks “What’s the most difficult situation you’ve experienced?” and you respond “A parent that I worked with was killed in a collision caused by a police chase on the way home from his second job”. My first staff meeting back in a Student Affairs office was difficult; my colleagues were talking about programming related to Trayvon Martin, and I told them “you know, I had a 16-year old student shot in the head two nights ago. I’ve lost too many students like Trayvon. It’s too real for me.” It was hard for my colleagues to understand that I was in an environment where horrible things happened, and now I’m in an environment where we discuss horrible things that happen from afar.
I still have some adjusting to do. I have to refrain from using “hella” several dozen times in my conversations and I now realized the El Guadalajara taco truck isn’t outside my office. But, if it’s for the field I truly believe I belong in, I’ll be happy with it.
