"Now, this is a story all about how my life got twisted, upside down.
And I’d like to take a minute just sit right there. I'll tell you how I became the…”
I attended Vanguard University as a student from 2000-2004, then I was hired as University staff on July 16, 2004. Although I was a student worker in many departments on-campus, my roles as a full-time employee included being the coordinator of: Alumni Relations, University Excellence Fund, Advancement, Special Events, and Volunteers. Now, I'm the Vanguard's Social Media Specialist.
All in all, being here for a DECADE has be in a reflective mood. There are many things that I've learned as I transitioned from being a student to young professional. Thank you to my colleagues (and friends) who patiently taught me the following...
- Admin duties - How to send a fax, use the copy machine, record a professional voicemail, set an Out of Office reply
- Class Notes - Tireless days and nights spent writing updates about fellow Alumni for the Vanguard magazine
- Phonathon - Remember that season when my normal work day was 12-10pm? My friends were rockstars in joining me for breakfast at 11am, lunch at 4pm, and dinner at 10pm.
- Board meetings - Setting up conference calls, learning the art of contributing to the discussion of a meeting but taking notes instead
- Committees - Oh the joys of agendas, collaboration, and education politics
- Boss Life - Interviewing, hiring, training, and supervising students who were close to my age... I loved being their professional reference when they worked elsewhere.
- Event Planning - Managing a school calendar and being present at the event while simultaneously being on the lookout for emergencies. Then, I went into a post-event hermit stage after large events like Christmas Fantasia or Homecoming
- Patron - Remaining a loyal fan to my alma mater's sports teams, Lyceum Theater shows, and chapel. I admit, I dressed like a student when I attended annual Student Life events (Woo Fest rocks!)
- Ministry - Reminding myself that my job here is a calling and continuing to serve as a mentor or mission/service team leader
- Development - Taking advantage of free lectures, learning workshops, panels, and supervisors who support continuous learning
- Volunteers - Recruiting friends and my network to love VU as much as I do
- Office Attire - Always dress ready to have your photo taken, be interviewed for a video, tour important guests around campus, or give a spontaneous presentation
- Social Media - And now I have the honor of showcasing all of these wonderful things to the world! It's pretty much the best gig ever.
To learn more about Vanguard University: http://www.vanguard.edu/
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