Knowing the Lay of the Land

Another day and again I was walking myself over to the Admissions office. Today, however, I was feeling a sense of freedom and exuberance. It is finally Friday. It is the last day of my first week of my internship and so far, I am doing great...when I get assignments. Of course, I completely understand that the office is busy like a beaver trying to get recruits in here for next fall and scheduling to have tables at college fairs and high schools. Those moments when they get one minute to breathe and step away from their work or they are drowning in work and they need a lifeline, I thrive. I have become an amazing lifeguard.

Today, Paul was swamped with work. From practically running an entire school, to managing a sports team, I am surprised he hasn't lost his mind. He is amazing at what he does and he has helped build a fine school. Since he was so swamped today, he handed me off to a junior counselor named Katarina. She graduated last year from Nichols but loved it here so much, she decided to work the main desk of the Office of Admissions and eventually get transferred over to the finance department. She had a lot of free time on her hands, so she decided to show me how to operate the front desk as well as teach me the etiquette for it. admissions is the first place a family would go if they were interested in Nichols, so having the right or perfect etiquette is ideal.  I learned how to properly answer the phones as well as how to work with the ambassadors.

I got to give a tour to a prospective student and his family along with another ambassador and he showed me how to talk to the prospective students and their families. I also learned a lot of statistics and at the end of the tour, the ambassador said that I did a great job. So I guess I am stepping up in the big world of planning.

Filing for Success

Today was my second day on the job and I was quite excited to return to the work world. Another day on the job means that I get the opportunity to experience something new in the field of Event Planning. I remembered that a child must learn to walk before he or she can run. I must take the steps necessary to build up to event planning and to get accustomed to the environment that I work in and the people I interact with every day. Today I got my daily reminder to take a step back and appreciate the little things.

Just like yesterday, I walked across the street to the building where opportunities blossom. Today, however, my nerves were drowned in sweat from the humidity in the air. It was quite warm outside, 90 degrees to be exact and I was not happy with it., however the light at the end of the tunnel also know as AC was only a few feet from my grasp. As I pulled open the Admissions doors a gust of cool air shot across my face, instantly feeling refreshing as if it were a full body ice pop. As I sat in my office waiting for my assignment from Paul, wondering what amazing task I would do today, I noticed a pile of boxes with stacks of files with names on them and loose papers thrown in them. I wondered what they were for and why they were there. I would be given the answer.

 Paul noticed me looking at the pile of papers and handed me a piece of paper. I looked at it and it was a printer copy of the brochures he would give out at college fairs. He asked me to proofread it and then when that was done he would have another assignment. So, like any good intern, I rushed off to proofread the paper and came back minutes later with the OK to run the print.

My next assignment was what reminded me to take a step back. In my head, I thought my assignment would be to work on a project planning an event or sit in on another meeting, but alas. I was handed the stack of boxes I just so happened to be looking at earlier and was instructed to go through the files and cross off names on a roster provided of students who have a file. I learned the files were transcript files for the freshman, so if at any point a student wanted to transfer, the files would be accessible. Sometimes you have to do the work you don't want to before you do the big tasks. Today was one step closer to being able to say I helped to plan something major for the school.

The Beginning of the Circle

 

Today was my first day of my internship. New year, new role, new job. As I walked across the campus, drops of sweat rolled down my forehead, not only because of the sun shining down on my face, but also for the fear inside. I was never good at dealing with the unknown. It was unusual because I was so scared but also so at peace. I was ready to take this next step in my life and to embrace any opportunity that may be thrown at me. 

I am currently working closely with Paul Brower, the Office of Admissions Assistant Dean for Enrollment to do an internship for event planning. For the first half hour of the internship, Paul didn't have anything for me to do, so I was left with a huge comfy chair on wheels, spinning around doing homework and thinking of creative names for this amazing blog. I was so excited when finally after getting trapped inside my head thinking of Disney and all the possibilities I could bring to this internship, I felt as if my dreams came true. Paul walked into the office where I was seated and asked me to sit in on a meeting. He explained to me that I would be learning about programming.

 I had no idea what I was in for. The only time I had heard about programming was in the residents hall when we were supposed to put on programs for the residents to better enjoy their stay here on campus. I walked into a room, with about 5 other people already seated and I was introduced to everyone at which point Pail said, "This is JC, the intern here." And thus my nickname was born. A group of 4 teachers, each individually came into the room and were asked questions by the panel I was now a part of. I soon realized I was sitting in on a panel and the "programming" they discussed was the academic programs of the school. We were finding out further information about updates on anything new and how the departments excel other departments at other schools when the Admissions department goes on tours and visits prospective students. We got the opportunity to talk to the international business department as well as the head of the math department, the English chair, and the education department. The questions asked included "Where have students found jobs in your department?" or "Are there any new changes or improvements made to the department?"

It was very fun to sit in on the meeting and be able to take notes and ask questions to the department chairs about what they want us to advertise and how they feel the program was going. The opportunities in some of the other departments were absolutely incredible, whether it be studying abroad or doing an internship with a professor. I must say, for the first day it was quite a good day. I look forward to many more.

Paul Brower