CULTURE OF "BUSYNESS"

Recently I came across Joseph L. Murray's 2010 article When Involvement Becomes "Busyness" and I can't really get it off my mind. If you can take the time to read it now, please do, but if you cannot, to summarize:

The article discusses college professionals’ support for students to get involved and what repercussions this message has on our students. Student involvement theories have shown that student participation in activities, clubs, and other programs help students adapt to the university lifestyle quickly and often lead them to be more socially successful in the long run. However, Murray questions whether while faculty and staff are continuously encouraging students to get involved, are we overlooking other needs of our students, particularly spiritually? 

Murray’s team found that students increasingly felt the expectation to be successful, and in order to be successful, one must pack their schedules with a multitude of activities. Murray acknowledges that involvement is necessary, but if students are shuffling about from one meeting to the next, are they taking the time to satisfy deeper individual needs? Most importantly, as staff, are we making them aware that this is an important element of their growth and encouraging it? 

In his research, Murray found universities such as Harvard and Bucknell that had specific co-curricular activities to help create and facilitate conversations between students about deeper life questions they are contemplating. Murray also studied campuses to see what physical spaces had been carved out to allow and encourage students to meditate and reflect (some universities had created gardens, labyrinths, and other quiet havens for their students.)

I would concede that many of us involved in student affairs quite enjoy the "buzz" of the students, but every so often when the campus empties out, I find a certain inexplainable peace: a calmness of body and mind that allows me to recenter and refocus. For me, this article really has me evaluating my practices as a young student affairs professional. 

Personally speaking, I identified with the student in the article who felt there is an expectation to get involved. I am all for involvement, but I like to pace myself, balancing my time between myself and time with others – however, I often feel there is a pressure to join professional organizations and spend time with colleagues outside of the classroom or workspace. Of course I believe that building these relationships and support systems is important, but at the same time I struggle with sacrificing my own personal time and overcommitting to things I'm not fully invested in. At the center of it all, 24 hours is 24 hours - it can only be divided so many ways and once it's gone, it's gone.

If you do not already, I encourage you to think more critically about how you spend your time and the factors and influences that affect those decisions. Even while writing this I think "this is so common sense, how come I haven't thought about it before?" and I think it is precisely because I've allowed myself to get caught up in "busyness."

Going forward, I want to try to be more cognizant of the implicit or explicit pressures I may be placing on colleagues and student staff to become involved in certain organizations or attend certain events. I plan to analyze what opportunities I offer my staff: where can I build-in reflection time both for themselves and in a community setting? This article really set a light in me to support a culture that actively promotes a balance of action and reflection.

xoxo e

growing up

I've been putting off growing up for as long as I can remember.

Flashback to this past summer: I was 22, a recent grad, and had no idea where my life was going. I had a lot of ideas, but nothing I was too sure about. Without any specific direction, I was terrified of entering the corporate world as this small town girl who was so unsure of herself.

When I originally went to college, I wanted to pursue film - I had high hopes of becoming an editor or something of the like. By sophomore year, all of my intentions were in the rear-view mirror and I hadn't a clue of what I wanted to do. I ended up graduating with a degree in public relations, which I loved, but even when I took on the major, I never fully expected to get a job in that field. PR, by itself, wasn't something I full-hearted loved.

I have been very fortunate to have a year off between undergrad and *hopefully* grad school (in the application process!) and it really has allowed me to discover myself. I know a lot of people my age who "never want to grow up" and I really think this fear stems from not knowing what you want to do with your life, which essentially stems from not knowing yourself well enough. I think too many people settle into a job that is financially satisfying or beneficial in another way (work hours, time off, etc) but doesn't fully entice them emotionally... which is so important.

You should use everyday of your life to reflect and grow. If you don't like your major today, why wait until tomorrow to change it? Pursue something you're passionate about, and really pursue it. A job may not be sitting on your doorstep when you graduate. College doesn't last forever, so I understand when students would rather spend their summers with friends or hang out with their roommates this weekend as opposed to "working," but if said work is something you enjoy, then is it really "working?" Sure you could go on a vacation all summer, but maybe an internship with an amazing company isn't a bad idea, because if you love the work, the rest of your life will seem like a vacation.

Know that this is coming from an ex-student who cherished a lot of time with her friends and devoted no time to herself. A person who was willing to wait for opportunity to come knocking at her door. A girl who shot for less than her dreams, because, well, something's better than nothing, right?

This year off has really woke me up. I can't expect other people to pave out what I want in my life, I'm the only one in control of that. I can't wait, and wish, and hope, and dream - I have to pursue, and act, and aspire, and succeed! I can, and I will.

For once, I am excited about my future and I am ready to grow up.

xoxo erikah