Making Friends

 

Starting the Bloomsburg University College Student Affairs (CSA) program, I didn’t know anyone. Not in the traditional sense. While I technically got my undergraduate degree from Bloomsburg in Technical Leadership, my program was online and I lived 63 miles away from campus (a two-hour drive, each way).

Before my first day of class as a CSA graduate student, I stepped onto the Bloomsburg campus only twice. First, to return a book on a dropped class, and the second time, for graduation.

Moving to Bloomsburg was interesting. Everything was the same but different. Learning the campus was a trip. It’s got your daily exercise built-in if you start down near Carver Hall and need to get up to the new Arts and Admin Building or the Andruss Library, up at the top of the hill. This might mean nothing to you right now, but come to campus, and you’ll understand. 

Honestly, six months later, I'm still learning the campus. Buildings I’ve never heard of, rooms that seem to move around, but the town feels like home.

— Lizz Matias Clammer, #SAPro. Clammer is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.

Adult Student Housing

I had hoped to live in Bloomsburg by the time classes started in August 2021. Covid-19 and the mortgage industry had other ideas for me.

You see, I lived two hours away from Bloomsburg University. Not only did I live in Reading, but I also had a mortgage on my home. In comes the dilemma. Without selling my house in Reading, I didn't have the income to support two mortgages.

Now you’re thinking, why not just rent in Bloomsburg? The problem with that is ... I have a dog. A big dog! A Siberian Husky named Maverick. I would've loved to live on campus, but they have no pet-friendly housing. Even if they did, I just got married and don’t think we should've to pay double the rent because there happens to be two of us in the same space.

While Bloomsburg has made the move to allow service animals and emotional support pets; what about our pets? Must we surrender our dogs to live in campus housing? Colleges claim to be worried about our mental health, so why not let us keep those pets that help bring us peace?

Long story short, my husband and I found a cute little house in Bloomsburg on Summit Avenue. It’s outside the flood zone and has a decent view. Our delivery drivers probably don’t enjoy our steps, but we found a reasonably priced home and we love it.

— Lizz Matias Clammer, #SAPro. Clammer is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.

This is the future of higher education and student affairs

My heart hurts. It hurts for all the people who have been negatively affected by Covid-19 and the long-term impacts of this pandemic. My heart hurts for the Bloomsburg University faculty who have worked very hard to convert from in-person to on-line teaching in a matter of 14 days. My heart hurts for the undergraduate students whose lives have been upended and dramatically changed. But mostly, my heart hurts for the College Student Affairs graduate students whose lives are also disrupted and who are squeezed by additional pressures.

CSA students still have their academic responsibilities. For most, this is three courses but a few are enrolled in four courses. All are online…all have new approaches to learning, perhaps new assignments or replacements for class time, very different dynamics. But the learning work remains.

All CSA students now have “remote” graduate assistantships, which means they can complete their responsibilities (perhaps somewhat adjusted) without being on campus. Some are in apartments in Bloomsburg; some have returned home…to Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. We are fortunate that the university is providing this option, that the financial support continues.

And who are undergraduate students turning to? Why, the CSA students who have graduate assistantships in 25 different departments across the university. Having developed relationships with undergraduate students since August 2019, CSA students are an integral part of the service network at Bloomsburg. Yet, this is another pull on their emotional state as undergraduate—as never before—need CSA students, need their support and insight, their guidance and expertise.

In addition, each CSA student has a life. They have family and friends who are affected by the pandemic. Take the student who is at home in the Pittsburgh area with three family members who are essential personnel. She is alone all day. When they come home, are they infected? Will someone get sick? Will she get sick? Or the student whose mother has been laid off. Will they lose their house? Or the student who is here in Bloomsburg while mother and grandmother are in NYC. Mom is essential personnel and grandmother is vulnerable to any infection. What happens if she is ill? Or if mom gets ill?

And yet…and yet…. My heart and my spirit are uplifted by their positive attitudes. Their drive to aid undergraduate students. Their concern for their faculty members. Their interest in assisting their GA supervisors as they collaboratively develop new ways of supporting and interacting with undergraduate students. They have not yet finished with their graduate education but are confronting challenges most seasoned professionals are not prepared for. But CSA students’ goals remain the same—regardless of location or technology or their own very pressing and difficult circumstances—to help students succeed in college.

I am humbled by Bloomsburg’s CSA students and the contributions they will make to higher education, student affairs, and college students’ experiences. This is the future of higher education and student affairs, and my heart sings.

— Denise L. Davidson, Ph.D., associate professor and program coordinator, Educational Leadership and College Student Affairs, #SAPro

A no right now, isn’t a no forever

It's that time once again in student affairs — interview season. Whether it be for graduate assistantships or for admission into a program, this time can be extremely stressful. As I write this, I'm sitting at my desk at a school that I was not planning to attend with a position I absolutely adore.

This time last year, I was set on one stipulation regarding graduate school: I wanted to get out of Pennsylvania. My other two choices were located out of state, and I applied to Bloomsburg University solely to soften the blow about wanting to move so far from home. I visited Bloomsburg before and thought it was a cute little place. However, as someone who has grown up in Pennsylvania, I wanted a break from bitter winters and all the snow.

When I was offered an interview at my top choice, I was elated. I was walking back to my apartment when I got the email and I audibly squealed, scaring the poor young man walking past me at the time. I felt like everything was falling into place. The time came for my on-campus interviews and while I was excited to be there, in the back of my mind I knew that this was not the place for me. To this day, I am still very thankful I didn't get an initial offer, because I would've gone simply because I was offered a position.

At the time of my on-campus interview for a graduate hall director position at Bloomsburg, I already been accepted into the College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program. I didn't think there was anything wrong with Bloomsburg, I just didn’t want to live in Pennsylvania. I was completely blown away by Bloomsburg residence life and the campus, and even during my interview, I ran into the chair of the CSA program. I left campus completely in love and confused. I hadn't heard back from the other school I applied to, but I felt like Bloomsburg was such an amazing fit.

I was offered the GHD position roughly a week later, and I hesitated. I asked for more time to decide since I was waiting to hear from one other school. I called my parents. I talked to my friends. I prayed. I then called back roughly 20 minutes later and accepted the position and confirmed I would be attending the program.

I say all of this to say, that no matter how daunting and overwhelming interview season is, what's meant for you will not miss you. Sometimes a no is a blessing in disguise, because greater is coming. You can prepare for interviews as much as you want, but if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn’t. Regardless of where you are in the interview process, remember to breathe. That a no right now, isn’t a no forever.

Every journey into higher education is different, so take time to breathe and don’t sweat the little stuff. Life has a funny way of working itself out.

— Danielle Jones, #ProfessionalU #SAPro

Jones is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.

I'm becoming the person I never truly believed I could be

The first semester of grad school comes with plenty of worries and pre-conceived notions. If you’re anything like me, then you've asked dozens of questions about the actual school part and graduate assistantships. I have *officially* survived my first semester of grad school and, as I write this a week before spring classes begin, have started my GA work for next semester already (oh yeah, that’s a thing), and now understand what this beast called grad school actually is.

If you’re a potential graduate student and are wondering what you may be getting yourself into, read further: this is for you.

Everyone says the first semester is the worst. If you ask current grad students, it’s the one thing they all seem to agree on and mention with the same overwhelmed look. Now that I have one semester complete, every inch of my being hopes this to be true.

The first semester is full of challenges and transitions and it truly reminds you what it was like to be a first-year college student. Study habits and the tips and tricks you learned during undergrad may not apply here. Syllabi are lifesavers but are also daunting.

During my undergrad I adored my planner and wrote everything down in it and that’s how I stayed on top of my schoolwork. Last semester, I had to have a daily to do list with a weekly assignment list in my phone. My planner was still great, but I needed to break assignments down into manageable chunks.

Readings. Readings. Readings.

As an undergraduate, I could get away with skimming or just pulling key points from readings. Grad school requires you to read and read and read and read. You have to be prepared and ready to articulate your thoughts on what you read and thought about. It’s not just regurgitating information; it’s making meaning of the information and applying it to real life.

It may seem like I’m whining—and believe me I did A LOT of that during the first semester. But while I’m hoping the first semester was the worst, I’m sure it will also remain the best. I am surrounded by incredible individuals who know the kind of difference Student Affairs professionals can make. They have brilliant minds and are compassionate beyond belief. Beyond my cohort members, I have an amazing friend group. The bad days suck less with them. I have coworkers and supervisors and professors who are supportive and who require me to be the best version of myself. I'm becoming the person I never truly believed I could be.

If you’re wondering what you have gotten yourself into by choosing to go to grad school, it’s a journey. It is a difficult journey with devastating moments and some of the most remarkable , amazing and uplifting moments. It can be exhausting and feel impossible, but it is beyond worth it.

— Danielle Jones, #ProfessionalU #SAPro

Jones is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.

A sense of satisfaction and a sigh of relief

Driving my classmates in a 15-person passenger van for the first time

Hello again! I hope everyone’s semester finished with a sense of satisfaction and a sigh of relief that it is over. Let’s catch up on all things College Student Affairs and in the Honors College.

Over the past few months, my personal and social relationships have skyrocketed. I have become incredibly close with many of my peers in my cohort and have found a safe and relaxing space among them. They have also introduced me to various new activities across campus that I am proud to have participated in! We have visited Rohrbachs’ Farm and enjoyed the October festivities, gone geocaching, watched the school’s amazing drag show (featuring one of our own cohort members), observed a probate for a sorority, joined the diversity and inclusion protest on campus, and spent numerous hours in the Graduate Study Lounge in the library laughing, crying, struggling, and learning together.

PLP socializing at President Hanna’s house

Through all of these experiences, I have realized how important it is to get up off the couch and socialize with the people around you. I am elated to have these moments and memories thus far and I cannot wait for another semester to continue dining in the Commons, hanging out in each other’s apartments, and being around one another.

My main priority at Bloomsburg is to learn and this includes the practical learning provided by my graduate assistantship. Next semester the Honors College (my GA site) will be moving to Lycoming Hall where the majority of our residential students are located. With this move, the Honors College will have a bigger space for programs and staff and better accessibility to its students. The College has expanded from one track to five tracks (research, internship, extra courses, presidential leadership program [PLP], and international experience). Each track has its unique requirements and specialties. In PLP, we have visited the home of University President Bashar Hanna, where he easily recalled our student’s names. He enjoys meeting with our students to see how they are doing throughout the semester. Also, in the international experience track, five faculty members and I will be taking 55 students on a month study tour to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, and Germany. They will take two courses in Poland and have the experience of a lifetime!

Class field trip to Wilkes University

Now, how is it possible to do all of that and still focus on school to maintain a 3.0 GPA to stay in the program? In our classes, with assistance from our professors and support from our cohort members, it is doable! So far, I have flawlessly (if I do say so myself) completed three courses: Foundations and Functions of Student Affairs, Student Development Theory, and Educational Research and Writing.

My peers and I have created numerous projects and presentations that, at times, were extremely nerve-wracking. Some of us presented two 30 to 45-minute group presentations (two of the biggest grades for our classes) in the same day back to back! Then, we went straight to finishing our 15-page Literature Review assignment. Even though this semester was incredibly tough at times and I wished I could just walk away, I am unbelievably proud of myself and my friends for all that we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. I hope next semester’s chaos will be just as invigorating.

Until next time,

— Jen Cole, #ProfessionalU #SAPro

Cole is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.