Class Reflection #1

Have you ever felt like you were the odd man out in a group? Well welcome to my life, while I am in my College Student Development class. I feel like everyone else is getting what is going on with the theories and I am being left in the dust, with a look of confusion on my face. 

I think the main problem that I am having is that all the theories are sounding just alike to me. They may have teeny tiny differences, but overall they are saying the same thing. This overwhelming feeling is worse when I am reading the chapters outside of class. I really do not understand most of them while I am reading in preparation for the class. Since I do not understand any of them and how they are supposed to be implemented I feel like I am coming to class unprepared and in a worse off condition that I be in if I did not read. 

Once I am in class, the understanding of the theories is much clearer, as Dr. A is able to summarize the theories’ components in one sentence, or one theme. After I get that one theme, I am able to fill in what the authors of the book where trying to accomplish in the first place. This makes me realize that the problem with the theories is more me than anything else. I am still in an adjustment phase as to how the information can be best obtained for me to get real meaning out of them.

I do I have a problem for almost all the women theories that we have gone over though, as I do not understand how they only pertain to women. I feel like every single woman themed theory can be applied to the male masses, if need be. I understand the need for these theories a few decades ago, but now I feel like using them would be more of a step backward than a step forward. 

There's No Such Thing

What is this bad day you speak of?? In my program both of the main professor have told us "There is NO such thing as a bad day in student affairs" Well are there things called bad weeks, months, semesters, years??? No, well I guess its time to put on the S.A face and get into the trenches.
I feel there is so much going on in my life right now, and I am stuck with thinking am I doing the right thing? I know that I really want to go into this field, but I feel like everything else in my life is screaming NO! I seem to be having student meetings internally with myself more than I actually have student meetings in the office. Questions like How are you doing this week? Your classes? Well just because you are feeling hopeless and lost doesn't mean is not true. I am pretty sure I am not the only hopeful S.A who is having this inner convo with themselves several times a week. I know that S.A people are just that people, but when you are trying to help build other people up, sometimes it feels like you are the biggest liar. How am I suppose to be genuinely positive, when i feel like crap on the inside?
I think that the goal is to be honest with myself and know my limitations. I can be upbeat and positive as I know that these students really can make a difference. I need to be positive about my position in life it can always be worse. I could have just kept on driving my car and my engine could have exploded or stopped working while I was driving. I could have no friends who weren't willing to drive me to school or get me from school, but none of these are the case. I am still alive and I still have a job and am working on working in my dream field. I think its time that I take a page from my own book and learn from what is happening to me and stop mopping around. Just because I don't have the full support from my family, but I have survived that before and I will do so now. Sometimes working by and for yourself is the best thing that can happen.

Allow me to introduce myself

My name is Tye (WITH AN E!!) and I am a second semester grad student at Valdosta State University in the Higher Education Leadership: Student Affairs M.Ed program. For those who don't know this means I want to work in a college as a staff member within Student Life, not being a principle. I decided that I was going to start a blog as one of my new year resolutions and because I had recently re-read on of my favorite books Lilah's List, in which she has a blog that details her adventures. Of course I keep on putting it off and thinking I will eventually do it, but know my professor gave me a binding reason to do it.... a grade.
That's right I have the option of using a blog as a way to reflecting on what I have been learning and understanding College Student Development. I thought hey that is a great way of getting on of my resolutions out of the way and maintaining what I hope to be a good grade. Wish me luck as I navigate my way through internships, classes, my assistantship, and that unpredictable thing called life!!!