Paths Into Student Affairs: Exploring Your Personal Calling Emily Burgess, Matt Corbett, Jesse Ford, Daniel Marshall, & Allison Peters Florida State University JESSE

What We’re Chatting About Today Developing an autonomous sense of self Your values and personal mission The student affairs profession and higher education How your values and experiences influence your career path and life satisfaction JESSE

How did we get here today? ALL How did you get into Student Affairs? How did your values affect your career choice and career path? What are some challenges in this career field? What is most rewarding? What was something that was unexpected? A little about how we paved our own paths into student affairs

Activity Time! What Do You Value? EMILY Trash Your Values Next slide – worksheet part 1 What Do You Value?

Values reflection Worksheet Page 1. Individually, think about the items on your activity sheet. 1) What do you value? 2) What is your personal mission? Worksheet Page 2. Think about the following things. 1) What is my life about? 2) What do I stand for? 3) What action am I taking to live what my life is about? DANIEL

Values Reflection Worksheet Page 3. Split into groups of about 4 people and share a little about what you discovered through the activity. 1) What are things that you value? 2) How have you seen those values at play in your campus involvement? 3) What surprised you? 4) How do you think your values will influence your career choice? DANIEL

Student Affairs ALLISON The Values of Our Profession

Core Values of Student Affairs Orgs NASPA’s Mission & Principles ACPA’s Mission & Values To be the principal source of leadership, scholarship, professional development, and advocacy for student affairs. Integrity Innovation Inclusion Inquiry To support and foster college student learning through the generation and dissemination of knowledge, which informs policies, practices, and programs, for student affairs professionals and the higher and tertiary education community. Educating & developing students and professionals Diversity & Inclusiveness Dissemination of knowledge Advocacy ALLISON

Why people choose student affairs Student Affairs is often called the ‘hidden profession’ because: no undergraduate majors lead directly to graduate study few are aware of the field as a career possibility Reasons for choosing the Student Affairs path: Encouragement by those in the field Critical incidents (including employment in a student affairs area while an undergraduate) Desire to improve campus life Shared values ALLISON

How do your values intersect or differ? EMILY Look back at your values and mission statement.

How do your values intersect or differ? Worksheet Page 4. Think about your mission statement and jot down your thoughts. Break into small groups of about four (find some different people this time). How do your values intersect or differ from those held by our professional organizations? Do you think involvement on campus shaped your values? How do you think your experiences will shape your career path? EMILY

Student Affairs JESSE Beyond the Functional Areas

Functional Areas Student and Campus Life Greek Life Recreation & Fitness Residence Life Spiritual Life Student Conduct Multicultural Office Global Engagement and Study Abroad Student Leadership Athletics Volunteerism Women’s Outreach LGBTQ+ Office Disability Services Academic Advising Career Center & Cooperative Education Campus Sustainability Research and Assessment JESSE You can move beyond functional areas! Look to your values and goals to build your path. Keep an open mind. Be a “dabbler”.

Career Satisfaction A mindful career path for happiness and well-being is achieved by: Knowing yourself and what you value Using your support network Making your own choices and create your own path Being open to opportunities that challenge you Making choices that honor what matters in your life – that which is close to your heart DANIEL

So now what? Worksheet Page 5. As you move forward, we hope you will continually ask yourself: Is Student Affairs for me? What is the best career path to Student Affairs for me? How will my degree work to support me in my profession? What functional areas best suit me based on my interests, experiences, and values? What path is going to help me reach my goals? DANIEL

Your answers may change a bit as life unfolds, but reflection along the way can lead you on your path. ALLISON Maybe today is that first, exciting step!

References available on request Thank you! References available on request How to contact us: Allison Peters • abpeters@fsu.edu Emily Burgess • eburgess@fsu.edu Jesse Ford • jford3@fsu.edu Daniel Marshall • drmarshall@fsu.edu Matt Corbett • mcorbett@fsu.edu ALLISON