Quote from Calista Flockhart's character Ally McBeal from the sitcom of the same name. Remember that dancing baby? I never watched that show but even I remember that baby. Calista Flockhart dates Harrison Ford and they just got engaged, as my people.com newsfeed tells me. (What can I say - I love celebrity gossip. It's guilty pleasures like this that make my day.) Roommate conflicts are all over this place these days, and I think this is fitting - especially for today.....
Tonight I spent an hour and a half helping to mediate a roommate conflict....one that transpired because no one was communicating and everyone stopped showing respect and common courtesy. It was one of the most frustrating things to deal with and just reminded me how much of a difference there is working with traditional first year students.
This was one little roadblock in my busy week of meetings and ACPA preparations. I am SO excited to attend this conference as a professional! I've already spent some time looking at the online conference schedule and figuring out what sessions I'd like to attend. There are so many that are interesting to me, making for a busy (and long!) conference if I end up attending all of these! I've planned in some sightseeing time as well and can't wait to meet up with some of my grad school friends that are now scattered at different institutions. I'm definitely excited for the socials, especially my grad school social as I've heard that a few of my old professors will be in attendance! Definitely lots of fun to be had!
Meanwhile back in the real world I'm working on my end of the year report and keeping up to date on my budget. I'm trying to get through my training presentations and remind myself that the next month is going to FLY by. I realized that I need to start working on RA evaluations and also find the time to plan a meeting for my new staff next year so we can meet and greet.
I'm starting to try and brainstorm fantastic end-of-year activities. I've already got something in mind for my hall, but I'm hoping to do something special for my staff. I've always given them little treats along the way (just because, for birthdays, holidays, etc.) and I feel like I need to do something nice as a final send off. I'm considering cooking dinner for them, especially since a lot of them will probably run out of money on their meal plans near the end of the year. I'd also like to do something else....probably write them little notes thanking them for being a part of my first year and being fantastic. I have a few seniors who will be graduating and even though I didn't know them during their whole time here, this is an important event that needs to be recognized. I haven't quite figured out what I can do to honor this event, but I'm working on it. Something meaningful that doesn't cost a lot of money....
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Quote from Winston Churchill, British politician who was Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. Primarily famous for his leadership skills, but also did a ton of other things during his life.
My 2 weeks of silence encompassed getting ready for spring break, closing down my hall, and then reopening it. While I definitely appreciated the time off, it was weird to be able to lounge around without a holiday occurring.
My hall is slowly filling with the sounds of students reuniting, music blaring, and people running up and down the hallways. I'm not sure I'm ready for the week to begin and start having to attend meetings, teach class, and deal with all the randomness of the life of a residence life professional. The good news is that we have 2 months left of the semester. This year has completely flown by and I'm starting to realize why some people stay for years and years in this position - it's so easy to have time just fly by and not realize what's going on. I can't believe that all my kids are about to finish up their first year of college and head home for the summer.....this has been a whirlwind experience.
One of the more fun parts of this job (at least in my opinion) is preparing for training once we return for the fall. I've always loved being a part of training, even when I was an RA and got to help out once I had been there a year. It was so odd in the beginning of the year to have to be someone who just sits and learns instead of having the ability to teach others. Now I've been assigned lots of sessions for this upcoming year, and I'm finding myself having to relearn more things than I thought. In the end I know it'll make me stronger in my position, but right now it's almost a bit of a pain in the ass. At least this will keep me busy and involved during training, and will indulge the diva inside of me - I definitely LOVE being on stage :)
I'm starting to think more and more about next year and what it will be like. I'm excited for my staff and to be able to get a lot of my opening tasks completed before the end of this year or at least over the summer. I'm already trying to think about some programming initiatives I can bring to the table and what we can do to get students excited about our community. I'm trying to do a little inner searching as well, thinking about what sort of experience I want to get out of my second year of work and how this position is preparing me for where I want to go next and what I want to do (both of which are major unknowns for me). I'm looking at some leadership opportunities within the office, hoping that I'll be able to show to everyone that I have what it takes to accomplish what I want. I think I need to really get myself in gear for these last two months and finish on a strong note so that I can look back on the not-so-great times but know that I pulled it all out in the end.
....which means less sitting around daydreaming and more action. Less being lazy and more taking initiative. Less thinking and more doing. And most importantly, much, MUCH more caffeine.
My 2 weeks of silence encompassed getting ready for spring break, closing down my hall, and then reopening it. While I definitely appreciated the time off, it was weird to be able to lounge around without a holiday occurring.
My hall is slowly filling with the sounds of students reuniting, music blaring, and people running up and down the hallways. I'm not sure I'm ready for the week to begin and start having to attend meetings, teach class, and deal with all the randomness of the life of a residence life professional. The good news is that we have 2 months left of the semester. This year has completely flown by and I'm starting to realize why some people stay for years and years in this position - it's so easy to have time just fly by and not realize what's going on. I can't believe that all my kids are about to finish up their first year of college and head home for the summer.....this has been a whirlwind experience.
One of the more fun parts of this job (at least in my opinion) is preparing for training once we return for the fall. I've always loved being a part of training, even when I was an RA and got to help out once I had been there a year. It was so odd in the beginning of the year to have to be someone who just sits and learns instead of having the ability to teach others. Now I've been assigned lots of sessions for this upcoming year, and I'm finding myself having to relearn more things than I thought. In the end I know it'll make me stronger in my position, but right now it's almost a bit of a pain in the ass. At least this will keep me busy and involved during training, and will indulge the diva inside of me - I definitely LOVE being on stage :)
I'm starting to think more and more about next year and what it will be like. I'm excited for my staff and to be able to get a lot of my opening tasks completed before the end of this year or at least over the summer. I'm already trying to think about some programming initiatives I can bring to the table and what we can do to get students excited about our community. I'm trying to do a little inner searching as well, thinking about what sort of experience I want to get out of my second year of work and how this position is preparing me for where I want to go next and what I want to do (both of which are major unknowns for me). I'm looking at some leadership opportunities within the office, hoping that I'll be able to show to everyone that I have what it takes to accomplish what I want. I think I need to really get myself in gear for these last two months and finish on a strong note so that I can look back on the not-so-great times but know that I pulled it all out in the end.
....which means less sitting around daydreaming and more action. Less being lazy and more taking initiative. Less thinking and more doing. And most importantly, much, MUCH more caffeine.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
“College is like a fountain of knowledge - and the students are there to drink”
I don't know who said the above quote, but dammit if whoever it was isn't write. Read on for more details.
We are entering in what I consider the most wonderful time of year in student affairs.....conference season.
People are all atwitter about their plans; what conference they are attending, how they're getting there, and who they're going to see. Spring just carries an infectious energy to it, especially now as a new professional, because not only does conference season give you the ability to stretch your professional development abilities, it's also the time to get out of being at work :)
I got hip to conference season 2 years ago during my first year of grad school when I went to the NASPA/ACPA joint conference. It was an amazing experience and I realized that I enjoyed nothing more than being able to be around a ton of other people that love doing the same other things as me. Last year I was at ACPA as a placement candidate and that worked out incredibly well, as I managed to keep my sanity and still have fun while interviewing what felt like non-stop. This year I'm heading back to ACPA again, looking forward to going to some sessions (I didn't get to go to any last year) and also enjoying be back in DC again. I'm branching out and going to another conference a little later in the spring, but I'm presenting! Something else to add to the resume.
Meanwhile I am also looking forward to spring break and closing up my hall. Everyone in my hall has suddenly lost all sense, and alcohol is flowing freely. They are shocked when they are written up, and I suddenly get flooded with emails asking how they can appeal such a charge. With such cut-and-dry situations, I wonder what they think they can possibly appeal - not only are they underage, but they're in a dry residence hall. The only thing that minimalizes the annoyance of having to follow up with all of these students is the amusement that I get in listening to their sob stories. I don't think I have a sympathetic bone left in my body.
We are entering in what I consider the most wonderful time of year in student affairs.....conference season.
People are all atwitter about their plans; what conference they are attending, how they're getting there, and who they're going to see. Spring just carries an infectious energy to it, especially now as a new professional, because not only does conference season give you the ability to stretch your professional development abilities, it's also the time to get out of being at work :)
I got hip to conference season 2 years ago during my first year of grad school when I went to the NASPA/ACPA joint conference. It was an amazing experience and I realized that I enjoyed nothing more than being able to be around a ton of other people that love doing the same other things as me. Last year I was at ACPA as a placement candidate and that worked out incredibly well, as I managed to keep my sanity and still have fun while interviewing what felt like non-stop. This year I'm heading back to ACPA again, looking forward to going to some sessions (I didn't get to go to any last year) and also enjoying be back in DC again. I'm branching out and going to another conference a little later in the spring, but I'm presenting! Something else to add to the resume.
Meanwhile I am also looking forward to spring break and closing up my hall. Everyone in my hall has suddenly lost all sense, and alcohol is flowing freely. They are shocked when they are written up, and I suddenly get flooded with emails asking how they can appeal such a charge. With such cut-and-dry situations, I wonder what they think they can possibly appeal - not only are they underage, but they're in a dry residence hall. The only thing that minimalizes the annoyance of having to follow up with all of these students is the amusement that I get in listening to their sob stories. I don't think I have a sympathetic bone left in my body.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
"I don't answer the phone. I get the feeling whenever I do that there will be someone on the other end."
Quote from Fred Couples, American professional golfer who has won a ton of championships/accolades/awards for being a superawesome golfer. He also apparently has the same issues as me, but more on that later in this post.....
The past few weeks have been a little emotionally hell-like.
Just when things calm down with my job and I'm finding more and more time to relax in my office and daydream about the summertime, I am hit from behind with my personal life. I find myself locked in struggle with my thoughts over my relationship, turning 25, and my friendships. I start trying to dissect every nuance of my life, trying to sequence out why things happen and how they've managed to turn me into the person I am now. I end up, in essence, driving myself to hysteria. It's a quiet and personal one until a late night conversation hits too close to home and suddenly feel like I'm standing in the rain watching a movie of what things could be like.
Another day and a clearer view of reality proves that things aren't nearly as foul as I think they are, and with a few honest talks with people I start to feel like a normal human again. Before I know it it's Thursday evening and I'm realizing that a weekend of fun and excitement with my coworkers is upon me, and in a few short weeks it will be spring break - meaning for me that I'll be able to enjoy the peace of an empty building and then the exhaustion of a whirlwind trip back to my hometown.
In the meantime I'll be fielding an unbelievably large amount of parent phone calls. Nope, not my parents (with my busy life and tendency to be bitchy when interrupted they usually leave the dialing up to me), but rather the parents of what feels like any student from my building that might be the teeniest bit unsatisfied/frustrated with basically any part of his or her college career. When I see that I have voicemail I automatically tense up and wait to hear which Mr or Mrs So-and-So I need to call back. The voicemail light taunts me, gleaming all proud as if to say, "Haha! Look at what YOU have to deal with!!". I have learned within my professional experience this year that the voicemail light is the bane of all existance, that even if it's from someone else you work with there's some pressing issue going on which is why they've called instead of just popping off an email or just trying the call again later. The voicemail light is there to add anxiety and stress to your day, causing you to rearrange your schedule so you can make time for the call-back - which will last at least 30 minutes, if not longer. The voicemail light is there to make you doubt your abilities in your job, the competency of your staff, and the tenure of your position.
I used to giggle at my assitantship supervisors when they would sigh and moan when their voicemail lights were on. I thought it was funny that such a thing could cause such immediate exhaustion and frustration. They weren't even working in residence life yet it was still a pain in the ass and something that was sure to either be utterly ridiculous, extreme anger-inducing, or (when you were lucky) just a hang-up. Now I understand and realize that perhaps karma is paying me back for all those smirks and sad faces I would make. Retribution is here, my friends. My personal emotions have waved the white flag and surrendered, allowing me full control over my thoughts once more, but the war rages on with my voicemail light with absolutely no end in sight.
The past few weeks have been a little emotionally hell-like.
Just when things calm down with my job and I'm finding more and more time to relax in my office and daydream about the summertime, I am hit from behind with my personal life. I find myself locked in struggle with my thoughts over my relationship, turning 25, and my friendships. I start trying to dissect every nuance of my life, trying to sequence out why things happen and how they've managed to turn me into the person I am now. I end up, in essence, driving myself to hysteria. It's a quiet and personal one until a late night conversation hits too close to home and suddenly feel like I'm standing in the rain watching a movie of what things could be like.
Another day and a clearer view of reality proves that things aren't nearly as foul as I think they are, and with a few honest talks with people I start to feel like a normal human again. Before I know it it's Thursday evening and I'm realizing that a weekend of fun and excitement with my coworkers is upon me, and in a few short weeks it will be spring break - meaning for me that I'll be able to enjoy the peace of an empty building and then the exhaustion of a whirlwind trip back to my hometown.
In the meantime I'll be fielding an unbelievably large amount of parent phone calls. Nope, not my parents (with my busy life and tendency to be bitchy when interrupted they usually leave the dialing up to me), but rather the parents of what feels like any student from my building that might be the teeniest bit unsatisfied/frustrated with basically any part of his or her college career. When I see that I have voicemail I automatically tense up and wait to hear which Mr or Mrs So-and-So I need to call back. The voicemail light taunts me, gleaming all proud as if to say, "Haha! Look at what YOU have to deal with!!". I have learned within my professional experience this year that the voicemail light is the bane of all existance, that even if it's from someone else you work with there's some pressing issue going on which is why they've called instead of just popping off an email or just trying the call again later. The voicemail light is there to add anxiety and stress to your day, causing you to rearrange your schedule so you can make time for the call-back - which will last at least 30 minutes, if not longer. The voicemail light is there to make you doubt your abilities in your job, the competency of your staff, and the tenure of your position.
I used to giggle at my assitantship supervisors when they would sigh and moan when their voicemail lights were on. I thought it was funny that such a thing could cause such immediate exhaustion and frustration. They weren't even working in residence life yet it was still a pain in the ass and something that was sure to either be utterly ridiculous, extreme anger-inducing, or (when you were lucky) just a hang-up. Now I understand and realize that perhaps karma is paying me back for all those smirks and sad faces I would make. Retribution is here, my friends. My personal emotions have waved the white flag and surrendered, allowing me full control over my thoughts once more, but the war rages on with my voicemail light with absolutely no end in sight.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind”
Quote from Albert Einstein, German-born physicist whose theory of relativity put him into history. He's a winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics, an author of both scientific and non-scientific works, and his last name has become another word for 'genius'. I think he also knows what he's talking about with living in quiet solitude (or as much of that as you can get while living in a residence hall filled with students).
All around me I am starting to hear the job search buzz….whether it’s from colleagues that are getting ready to move on, grad students who are preparing to start their first search, or the bloggers of the 2009 Job Search Blog….and, believe it or not – I am jealous.
I know, I know. For as much bitching and moaning that I did last year during the process and how I couldn’t WAIT for the whole thing to be over, I am now jealous of those who get to do it again. It’s not because I hate where I am (I love it!) or that my job annoys me (I love it!), it’s just that I love having to be super organized and researching for positions.
Yes, I truly am this much of a nerd.
What got to me last year was the anxiety of what would happen if I didn’t find a job. Sure interviewing at placement was exhausting and getting those “Thanks, but no thanks” emails was heartbreaking, but the process itself was actually fun. And now I don’t have to do it, and it’s a little odd. Relaxing, but odd.
The one thing I hate is how the job search changes people. Everyone becomes edgy and irritable, with the slightest misstep becoming a huge catastrophic mistake. People who have been your friends suddenly start to pull away - in part because their time is consumed by the job search and also because they stop caring. Not about you....necessarily. They stop caring about the job and the institution and in their minds they have already clocked out and moved on. It's heartbreaking to watch and even worse to actually live. [Job searchers, please keep this in mind as you embark on this journey.]
Today has been peaceful, something I was seeking after this past week and something that I need to get me through the next. The building has been fairly silent (I directly attribute this to a lack of sports on TV this afternoon) and I've been able to wander my apartment doing random things that please me. I need this type of weekend to restore my sanity from the avalanche of roommate conflicts and problems within my building, as they will all hit me right in the face on Monday when I step into my office.
All around me I am starting to hear the job search buzz….whether it’s from colleagues that are getting ready to move on, grad students who are preparing to start their first search, or the bloggers of the 2009 Job Search Blog….and, believe it or not – I am jealous.
I know, I know. For as much bitching and moaning that I did last year during the process and how I couldn’t WAIT for the whole thing to be over, I am now jealous of those who get to do it again. It’s not because I hate where I am (I love it!) or that my job annoys me (I love it!), it’s just that I love having to be super organized and researching for positions.
Yes, I truly am this much of a nerd.
What got to me last year was the anxiety of what would happen if I didn’t find a job. Sure interviewing at placement was exhausting and getting those “Thanks, but no thanks” emails was heartbreaking, but the process itself was actually fun. And now I don’t have to do it, and it’s a little odd. Relaxing, but odd.
The one thing I hate is how the job search changes people. Everyone becomes edgy and irritable, with the slightest misstep becoming a huge catastrophic mistake. People who have been your friends suddenly start to pull away - in part because their time is consumed by the job search and also because they stop caring. Not about you....necessarily. They stop caring about the job and the institution and in their minds they have already clocked out and moved on. It's heartbreaking to watch and even worse to actually live. [Job searchers, please keep this in mind as you embark on this journey.]
Today has been peaceful, something I was seeking after this past week and something that I need to get me through the next. The building has been fairly silent (I directly attribute this to a lack of sports on TV this afternoon) and I've been able to wander my apartment doing random things that please me. I need this type of weekend to restore my sanity from the avalanche of roommate conflicts and problems within my building, as they will all hit me right in the face on Monday when I step into my office.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches."
Above quote from e.e. cummings, an American poet from the 20th century who is perhaps most famous for his lack of capitalization, punctuation, and attention to sentence detail. I think he was amazing, and part of the influence on me and my poetry-writing style.
Ahh, the snow day. A simple event that can instantly strike fear in the hearts and minds of any residence life professional. An event that many of us are dealing with these days, and something that always proves to be interesting and keep you on your toes. It's not just about the college/university shutting down, it's about cancelling huge events that have been planned for months, students going crazy in the building and coming up with new (and often dangerous) ways to amuse themselves, and trying rearrange your schedule to accomodate the new appointments that will creep up because of it.
I have spent my snow day working (albeit minimally) and watching House. I'm refusing to leave my apartment and have been digging through my pantry trying to find something that I can assemble together that might resemble a meal. I've yelled at students and watched other people yell at students. I see students wandering around outside in SHORTS (forget about the cold - there's a lot of snow out there!). I truly believe that when these things happen students lose all sense and wits and turn into animals. Today has only reinforced this.
I'm hoping for a calm evening and that tomorrow will see a return to normalcy. It's too snowy to go outside and cause a ruckus, right?
Ahh, the snow day. A simple event that can instantly strike fear in the hearts and minds of any residence life professional. An event that many of us are dealing with these days, and something that always proves to be interesting and keep you on your toes. It's not just about the college/university shutting down, it's about cancelling huge events that have been planned for months, students going crazy in the building and coming up with new (and often dangerous) ways to amuse themselves, and trying rearrange your schedule to accomodate the new appointments that will creep up because of it.
I have spent my snow day working (albeit minimally) and watching House. I'm refusing to leave my apartment and have been digging through my pantry trying to find something that I can assemble together that might resemble a meal. I've yelled at students and watched other people yell at students. I see students wandering around outside in SHORTS (forget about the cold - there's a lot of snow out there!). I truly believe that when these things happen students lose all sense and wits and turn into animals. Today has only reinforced this.
I'm hoping for a calm evening and that tomorrow will see a return to normalcy. It's too snowy to go outside and cause a ruckus, right?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."
Above quote from President Barack Obama's inauguration speech today. Read on for more info.
One of the things I love most about my job is the total autonomy that I have. Not only do I manage my own building, making my own decisions, and create my own standards for my staff, but I also have complete reign over my schedule and my time. It's this sort of thing that allowed me to take off a decent part of the day to sit in front of my TV and watch CNN as they gave me incredible coverage of the inauguration of President Obama. In fact, I'm STILL watching it; now I'm seeing all the balls and the dances and thinking about how incredible those parties must be.
I realized the other day that I can remember watching the inauguration of the last few 4 year increments. Part of me wonders if I remember seeing a recap on the evening news or actually watching them in real time.....shouldn't I have been in school? Did I manage to convince my mom to let me stay home? I'm not really sure, but I have vivid memories of watching President Clinton take oath (the first time, I think) and I would've been fairly young at the time. I remember lots of his campaign against then President Bush Sr. and Ross Perot; I even remember watching the debates. While politics has been a part of growing up for me (I remember campaigning for my school levys to be passed and constantly aware of what was going on in the world) it seems to have been fallen by the wayside. Today as I watched all of this I decided that I should become a more politically minded individual and get a better grasp on the hot topics of the day. Since I feel like I'll officially become an adult when I turn 25 this spring, this seems fitting.
Anyway, I decided to check out the new http://www.whitehouse.gov that CNN kept discussing and immediately settled on the biographies of those important people of this administration. I was immediately reminded of how education-minded the Obamas and Bidens are, especially with higher education:
First Lady Michelle worked for the University of Chicago for many years, including serving as Associate Dean of Student Services and Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the medical center.
President Barack taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Jill Biden (Mrs. Vice-President) has taught English for years at the Delaware Technical and Community College [ahhh, how my heart soars at this because of my experience at the small community college-esque campus]. She just earned her Ph.D in 2007 but that's okay because she's been busy raising her family and earning TWO master's degrees (in English and Reading). Oh, and she had on knee-high boots today. That furthers my intital thought that I LIKE her :)
All of this gives me a good feeling, especially once I browsed the agenda on Education (also available at the White House site). One of the things that made me smile was the idea that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) could be eliminated and replaced with a check box on your tax form. As someone who has experience working in Financial Aid (especially with assisting families with filling out this form).....well, I can't really express the amount of frustration that could be eliminated and the number of families who would probably receive aid who do not currently because of the complication of the form. Wow.
So....today has not been about work for me. It's not been about what I'm working on, what's on my list of things to do, or what's happening in my building. Today has been about what the world will look like in the next 4 years, and what we can hope to see in the future. It's about change and new beginnings, no matter where you live or who you voted for.
One of the things I love most about my job is the total autonomy that I have. Not only do I manage my own building, making my own decisions, and create my own standards for my staff, but I also have complete reign over my schedule and my time. It's this sort of thing that allowed me to take off a decent part of the day to sit in front of my TV and watch CNN as they gave me incredible coverage of the inauguration of President Obama. In fact, I'm STILL watching it; now I'm seeing all the balls and the dances and thinking about how incredible those parties must be.
I realized the other day that I can remember watching the inauguration of the last few 4 year increments. Part of me wonders if I remember seeing a recap on the evening news or actually watching them in real time.....shouldn't I have been in school? Did I manage to convince my mom to let me stay home? I'm not really sure, but I have vivid memories of watching President Clinton take oath (the first time, I think) and I would've been fairly young at the time. I remember lots of his campaign against then President Bush Sr. and Ross Perot; I even remember watching the debates. While politics has been a part of growing up for me (I remember campaigning for my school levys to be passed and constantly aware of what was going on in the world) it seems to have been fallen by the wayside. Today as I watched all of this I decided that I should become a more politically minded individual and get a better grasp on the hot topics of the day. Since I feel like I'll officially become an adult when I turn 25 this spring, this seems fitting.
Anyway, I decided to check out the new http://www.whitehouse.gov that CNN kept discussing and immediately settled on the biographies of those important people of this administration. I was immediately reminded of how education-minded the Obamas and Bidens are, especially with higher education:
First Lady Michelle worked for the University of Chicago for many years, including serving as Associate Dean of Student Services and Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the medical center.
President Barack taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Jill Biden (Mrs. Vice-President) has taught English for years at the Delaware Technical and Community College [ahhh, how my heart soars at this because of my experience at the small community college-esque campus]. She just earned her Ph.D in 2007 but that's okay because she's been busy raising her family and earning TWO master's degrees (in English and Reading). Oh, and she had on knee-high boots today. That furthers my intital thought that I LIKE her :)
All of this gives me a good feeling, especially once I browsed the agenda on Education (also available at the White House site). One of the things that made me smile was the idea that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) could be eliminated and replaced with a check box on your tax form. As someone who has experience working in Financial Aid (especially with assisting families with filling out this form).....well, I can't really express the amount of frustration that could be eliminated and the number of families who would probably receive aid who do not currently because of the complication of the form. Wow.
So....today has not been about work for me. It's not been about what I'm working on, what's on my list of things to do, or what's happening in my building. Today has been about what the world will look like in the next 4 years, and what we can hope to see in the future. It's about change and new beginnings, no matter where you live or who you voted for.
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