Well, that was fun. Now that the chaos from walk-ins is over, I find myself at a complete loss. What is my purpose? Why am I here? What do I have to offer?
I am a problem-solver. Now I’m off to find the next problem that needs solving (or you all are about to deal with a bunch of ramblings), because I cannot just sit on my hands. I will not live a status quo life. Sorry, not sorry.
Why are you taking things so personally.
Because I thought we were vibing. I thought we were cocreating. I thought I found a passion project to pour my solution-based focus/hunger into.
In my opinion, life is a passion project. I just don’t really see the point of living a passionless life. I feel like this comes from a place of gratitude. I sincerely feel absolute thanks for the freedom I experience in my daily life. I recognize the gift and opportunity each and every morning presents. I just cannot imagine not looking out across the property as I open or close the gate without thankfulness.
I go to bed each night and reflect on every interaction. I analyze and process what I should have done or said differently. How I better understand someone in my world after an interaction or a miscommunication.
Gosh, working in passion projects means that people are running on high octane for long periods of time. We are often under rested and over caffeinated.
I am not sure how to pour life into those around me who are desperately trying to change and influence the lives of the next generation. These people are passionate about the work they do. They strive to do good work every single day.
They are tired.
We are three days into the registration cycle I planned my innovation to go live. I don’t know how to get my innovation idea in front of the right audience. I completed the ADL program with a growing innovation idea. My department allowed me to complete a NACADA Micro credential course on Flipped Advising with the goal of a proposal. To avoid bias and blindness I used that knowledge and experience to form a committee within our advising unit to explore and form the proposal. These team members have done such a great job taking my thoughts and ideas and expanding them with new perspectives. We utilized so much of the Backward Design principles in last years orientation cycle trying to help students connect the idea that they should be invested in and take ownership of their academic journey. Things were trucking along nicely. The proposal went to several university officials to determine placement, governing body oversight, and digital learning approvals. As different areas signed off on implementation additional information was requested regarding the official proposal, intended audience, and other logistical details. We got all the way to a scheduling conversation and then everything just fizzled out. The committee was ready to move on to planning for “advising 101” type implementation planning. I am just not comfortable moving forward with any additional time, research, or planning until I knew whether or not we had approval to do so.
Hopefully, people are in place now and some of these innovation ideas can come to life and my passion project can take form and evolve into whatever advisors and students need to feel loved and supported.
To be continued…
How do you go from writing about the most optimistic, innovative period of your life to trying to continue blogging, growing, and innovating when every aspect of your professional life tells you, “Why bother?” I am in a complete state of despair because everyone around me cries, “Why bother?”
I bother because I care!
I bother because I want to make a difference!
I bother because I refuse to live an apathetic life!
The same people who run to me with arms waving in the air when the sky is falling won’t budge on creating more proactive measures. Why do people insist on living in such a reactive state instead of taking control and demanding a proactive one?
How do you openly and honestly write about these feelings when you have shared your professional portfolio with stakeholders and members of your community?
If I don’t start being honest somewhere, I am going to give up on this amazing profession in higher education and start looking for my third career path (medical, higher education, __?___).
The Advisor That Cares 