In the shadow of Kearsarge

Go. Go somewhere new. Exciting. Different. Get out of your comfort zone. Go somewhere you’ve never been before. Just … go.

You’ve heard those words before. Whether you’re reading this as a grad student or an undergrad student, or not even a student at all, I’m sure you’ve been told this before. You may have even given this advice to someone—If you have, I say to you: Thank you!

For the first time, this summer, I took that advice with regard to my higher ed career by accepting an internship for Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs program at a tiny private college in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire, working in institutional research and strategic planning with the president there, areas with which I was geographically and professionally unfamiliar.

As it turned out, this proved to be one of the most powerful professional development experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve taken to calling it my “North Star Experience” because, while I learned a great deal from the people that I met there and the work that I did, my time there confirmed many things about my career path.

It affirmed my desire to work at small, private, liberal arts institutions, especially if they are located in somewhat rural areas with ample outdoor recreation opportunities (more on that later), and also my goal to eventually shift my professional trajectory from purely student affairs to the broader world of higher education administration.

A little bit about the place: Colby-Sawyer is a small (~1,100 students), private college in a very small, idyllic, quintessential New England town in the middle of vacationland New Hampshire, overlooked by the prominent Mt. Kearsarge. The College has captured what they call their “sense of place,” which is their identity as an institution, evident in their commitment to sustainability and respect for nature and to providing a multidisciplinary, experiential education to their students.

What really sold me on the place, however, was the people. From the president and senior leadership team to the students, everyone I met and spoke to was welcoming and possessed an inherent happiness, an excitement about they’re doing, and above all, hope for the institution. This is a place that has fallen on hard financial times in recent years and has responded with confidence, hope, and innovation.

If you have the opportunity to take the advice as stated in the beginning, do it. If you don’t have the opportunity, ask. My experience in New Hampshire happened because I had met the president when she worked in a different role at my undergraduate institution. I reached out to her last winter and asked if she would provide me with an internship opportunity. We all have a professional network, large or small, and it can be uncomfortable to utilize it and ask things of people. My advice: Get over that; ask anyway. As a grad student, you have the time and the ability, so take the opportunity.

Take a risk. Get a little bit uncomfortable. It’s worth it.

— Jonathan Gowin, college student affairs #EducationalLeadership #ProfessionalU

Yes, I belong in this work

My name is Jonathan Gowin and I am currently in my third semester of Bloomsburg University's Educational Leadership, College Student Affairs program. When I think back over these last three semesters, I can say that it has been wild ride!

I got my start in student affairs as an orientation leader at my undergraduate institution, Lycoming College. While there, I struggled a lot to find a major that I loved, so like any typical escapist, I ignored that problem and got involved on campus instead! After one year in Orientation, I really dove into all the co-curricular opportunities that Lycoming could give me. By the time I graduated, I had added residence life, academic and disability support services, student activities, and leadership to my student affairs repertoire. Despite some lingering doubts about my direction, I decided to immediately pursue graduate school at Bloomsburg. Within the first week, my doubts were pushed aside and I thought for the first time, “Yes, I belong in this work.”

That confirmation hasn’t wavered in the last 10 months. In the fall and spring, I held a graduate assistantship in the Center for Leadership and Engagement, where I helped run the Leadership Certification Program for undergraduate students, planned large scale campus events, and co-supervised 12 student staff members. It was really my first opportunity to think like a student affairs emerging professional and be in that kind of role. When I think about the experiences I had with my students, it was straight-up fun.

For this semester, I have taken up a GA working with Dr. Denise Davidson, who is the program coordinator for the summer term. This has given me the opportunity to see the operational, nuts-and-bolts side of running a graduate program and for someone like me, whose passion transcends student affairs and encompasses higher education broadly, this has been very exciting. In the fall, I will continue to explore new areas of student development when I move to University Tutorial Services, where I’ll be coordinating the Supplemental Learning Program.

For me, the CSA program has been so much more than just the sum of my GA and class work. My favorite part about this program is the wealth of the co-curricular opportunities that are available (spoken like a true student affairs person, am I right?). In March, I, and several colleagues attended the international convention of a leading professional association, College Student Educators-International.

I’m currently a member of two research teams; one with Dr. Mark Bauman studying college presidents and the other with Dr. Mindy Andino and two fellow CSA colleagues, studying Generation Alpha. Just last week, I presented my preliminary findings for the former at the Pennsylvania Student Affairs Conference at East Stroudsburg University. Last, and perhaps most excitingly, a colleague and I, with collaboration from faculty here and at other PASSHE institutions, are starting the Student Affairs Graduate Almanac (SAGA), a “by students, for students” academic journal. I’ll share more details about these projects in future blogs!

If I’ve learned anything from these semesters at Bloom, it’s that the sky is the limit. This is an environment of inspiring people that will encourage you to take your ideas and run with them and challenge and support you (@Sanford) in the process. Bring your wild ideas and enthusiasm to us, it has a home here!

— Jonathan Gowin, college student affairs #EducationalLeadership #ProfessionalU

A sign of good things to come

I knew it was going to be challenging, but I did it anyway. I had confidence in myself … and in the academic support available to me here at Bloomsburg University.

The second semester of my junior year, I took American Sign Language to fulfill one of my general education requirements. I knew ASL would be an intense course, because one of my roommates took it the semester before and failed. However, it was interesting to me to learn how people used nonverbal methods to communicate.

The first day of class the professor advised everyone to get a tutor, admitting this was not going to be an easy course. She said students who normally use tutorial services on campus earn a higher grade than those who don’t.

I wanted to get my feet wet in the course before I went in and got a tutor, in case I didn’t need one. I did poor on the first test and was falling behind on the course schedule, which made me realize I needed help.

After speaking with my professor, she gave me a list of names of people who were tutors and ASL majors. When I went to the tutorial services office to fill out the form everyone was welcoming and helpful, which made me feel good about coming there for help.

Within a week I received an email with my tutor name and contact information. The tutor was an ASL major and a junior just like me. She worked around my class and work schedule. I was able to practice my presentations with her and vocab for exams! She was also able to give me pointers and advice that made ASL easier to remember, which was a big help. She was also patient and a good listener. My final grade was an A-, and I never would have gotten that without my tutor.

Tutors work around your schedule and are only here to help students succeed. It is important to remember tutors are students too, and that you should come prepared to the meetings ready to learn.
Utilizing the tutorial services can be good for students even if you are doing exceptional in all of your classes. You may think you do not need help, but a tutor can push you to the next level and give insight on better ways to improve study habits.

— Khalil Daniel, senior communication studies major #HuskyLife

Taking control before it's out of control

As I began my senior year, stress is at an all time high. I know a lot of you are wondering why because it’s only been one month.

Well, I am going to allow you to take a step into my life. I am currently enrolled as a full-time student, working two jobs, a board governor scholar, and I have one internship. I know, I know, it sounds very exhausting … This is an example of why it is important to have mental strength and to be in control while in college.

What is being in control? Being in control is having a routine that you desire and making time for things that make you happy daily. Of course homework and studying comes first but it is important that we make time for our self and what makes us happy at Bloomsburg University.

This could be going to the gym, going for a jog, going out with friends, playing Frisbee on the quad, or going to events at the Kehr Union. I have been working at the Kehr Union for the last past two years, and there's plenty of events that go on every day that students do not know about. Such as, movie night, poetry slams, trivia, and etc. You can find these events on posters inside the Kehr Union.

Being in control of your fun time is important but being in control of your school work is much more important. At the start of a new semester make a good impression on your professor and have a good start to the semester by completing all of your assignments and doing extra credit, because it can determine the way the rest of your semester may turn out.

Nobody wants to play catch up. Being in control of your schoolwork is being organized! Make a planner, know your deadlines, and when assignment have to be done. Also, a strategy I have been using since a freshman is studying before class. That 15 minutes before class can be valuable and can help you retain information.

Tutorial services and the writing center can also be a good tools to use on campus. When I first came to Bloomsburg University I was placed in Writing 2, which is one level behind the college level. So my freshman year I spent a lot of time at The Writing Center for papers. Now, I am completing my third internship and am a communication major, which means I write papers all the time.

So don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Last but not least mental strength... Mental strength can come from a variety of different places. I tend to talk to family and friends when I am feeling uneasy about something. Sometimes we might need to talk to someone other than family and friends. On campus has several different resources such as, assistant dean of students, mentors, and counseling that you can talk to and keep information confidential. They can also help with your mental strength and give you that boost of confidence you may need.

— Khalil Daniel, senior communication studies major #HuskyLife