Last Paper before Graduation

Two years of College Student Personnel (CSP) program definitely have made a huge impact on my future life. While I have been learning about how to help college students succeed, I find myself become more self-identified through this learning and exploring process. Since this is my last paper to write before the graduation, I would like to summarize this relationship between me and CSP.

What I Have Learned

Academic Curriculum

CSP requires 36 credit hours to complete the program. I have taken 12 courses, and they are Introduction to CSP, Student Development Theory, American College Student, Legal Issues in Higher Education, Counseling Theories and Helping Skills, Research Design and Analysis, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Administration in CSP, Advising Student Groups, Practicums I&II, and CSP Capstone Seminar. All courses can relate and support among each other and the future career as well. I cannot rank which courses are most beneficial because each of them is a significant component to build my professionalism. For example, I took American College Student during my first semester. It helped me understand characteristics and insights about different student subgroups so that I can develop the best practices to work with diverse student populations. Assessment and research are core skills that can help me do a better job with the deep understanding in a scientific method. Legal Issues in Higher Education helped me to keep myself updated with the current student affairs trend. Student affairs is an ongoing career. All the knowledge I have learned from classes should not be fixed. It is the stepping stone for me to seek for more knowledge coping with the need of higher education.

Extracurricular Involvement

I am lucky to be able to get involved with various types of extracurricular activities on campus. I joined the College Student Personnel Association since my first semester of CSP program. I highly value this involvement mainly because it better connects me with other students in the program. I also participated in other student activities. One thing I feel proud of myself is the First Year Information program I established during my second semester. Once I recognized the strong need of international students to better integrate into the college life while studying abroad, I wanted to help them succeed with enough support and access. The international office and CSP department helped me with the content and marketing. I organized and presented this weekly seminar program along with the design of social media and website platforms. I have seen the success of students who participated in the FYI program. Their success truly makes me feel happy and meaningful. This experience encouraged me to have more confidence and desire to work in the field of student affairs.

Self-Identity Evolvement

There are obvious reasons why freshmen need university orientation courses. So did I need a good transition from undergraduate to graduate life. In the beginning of the program, I often questioned myself if I was in the right track and if I could be good at it. With the concern, I had this goal to find out the answer. All the academic and extracurricular learning process helped me to better understand myself. Student development theories, counseling theories, and practicums all helped me reflect back on myself. I have become more clear of who I am, what I want to achieve, and what I need to do. This self-identifying process is the best gift for myself after the study of CSP program. I am not limiting myself any more to just one field within student affairs, and I am also not limiting myself to absorb anything I can learn for my career and life. I like who I am and I am not perfect, but this does not mean I should behave like a different person. I can use what I have learned to build up upon my current identity and become a better myself.

Valuable Lesson

The most valuable lesson I have learned is collaboration. I used to prefer taking responsibilities all by myself. I thought it would be more efficient and accountable. After all of the group work academically or outside of the classroom, I have learned everyone is playing a different role within a group, and an effective group needs different roles. Diversity is beautiful because of this comprehensive make up of the whole population. Learning the differences among each other and utilizing the strength of each person can create a beautiful accomplishment. I know I typically play roles of initiator, contributor, opinion-seeker, coordinator, harmonizer, observer, follower and so many other different roles depending on the group. How to work together well wither other types of individuals is a lifelong lesson that I need to continue learning. This is also related to conflict management. People have conflicts because of the existing differences of emotion, perception or decisions. Better understand the difference and the reason behind it can help solving the conflict and also encourage a new learning opportunity.

Expectations

CSP Program Changes

I really like the current design of CSP program. A highlight of the program is the flexibility and availability of various electives for students. There are so many different topics that students wish to learn more about. However, it can be difficult to create an elective course for each hot topic that students are interested in. As a previous idea mentioned by CSP faculty, I would like to see offering these topics in the format of workshops or condensed courses. Students can receive a certificate with the successful completion. Therefore, we can be more prepared in job searching and career entry.

CSP program is the largest graduate program at Arkansas Tech University. We have numerous alumni working in higher education. I am really looking forward to seeing a stronger connection among all alumni.

Career Goals

Currently, I am still in the process of job searching. I keep myself open-minded to any functional area of student affairs and any location. In the next five years, my goal is to work for one or two at most positions to fully understand the real world of student affairs and build a mentoring relationship with some students. Academically, I also plan to get admitted to the Ph.D. program of higher education administration in student affairs within three to five years. To achieve these two goals, first I need to finalize my first job in student affairs and do my best to learn and contribute. I also need to maintain my networking and continue to expose myself to all kinds of issues in higher education. I would like to learn new things cross functionally when I first make sure I can master my main responsibilities.

Now What

Memorable Moments

I earned my bachelor degree from Arkansas Tech University on May 10, 2014. During the summer of 2014, I experienced many high and low feelings. I decided to continue my journey at Arkansas Tech University to study my master. First day of class in CSP was on August 28, 2014. I was nervous about the graduate study and my jobs as the graduate assistant. I took my four-hour long comprehensive exam to complete the program on April 9, 2016, and I got the result that I passed it a week later. Last day of class of CSP is April 26, 2016, and the graduation is on May 6, 2016. All of these dates are significant marks through my life for these two years. And of course there were many other memorable moments, like the first day when I started my practicum at another institution, the presentation I gave about our research on international student mental health, and the corn maze I went to with other CSP classmates. I always though the time would be plenty, but toward the finishing time of it, I start to realize that there are so many things and people I will cherish.

Suggestions

As an executive officer of College Student Personnel Association, I have talked with many undergraduate students about CSP program and my personal experience. I wish more people can recognize and value this hidden career in higher education. There are so many things I would love to share with other prospective students. One suggestion is keeping challenging yourself. There are tons of support from the faculty, staff, online resources, and learning opportunities. Challenging yourself with all these support and exploring your capacity will be very beneficial to improve the learning of yourself and how to carry this philosophy into the career. Allowing yourself to try different things and you will be able to develop a comprehensive set of soft skills. Of course, maintain the passion and the positive attitude during this challenging and learning process.

Stay Connected

As I am about to leave soon, I would really want to stay connected with my friends, faculty, and staff here. Once I step my feet into the real world of student affairs, I will be very busy of learning many new things, getting familiar with a new environment, and making new friends. No matter how far I will be and how long I will be gone, I will remember and appreciate everything Arkansas Tech University gave to me.