#SAGrad

[studentaffairsgradstudent]

Congratulations. You're halfway through the semester

[storiesfromthera]

When the residents try to loft their own beds on move in day

[journotosapro]

I love the parallels I'm finding between being a journalist and being an SA paraprofessional. 

As a present-day journalist, you're everything: the writer, photographer, designer. I'm finding the same pattern in student affairs. Whether it's creating a presentation, flyer or recruitment theme, you're making something; you're designing. 

If your job involves, or you think it will involve, designing, save this chart! Although I only have a semester of being an SA grad under my belt, having an eye for good design sets you apart! 

[shortk1ng]

lil sticker thangs of my ocs yahoo time to pass out

[cherishedbunny]

Прекрасный

[a-dream-seeking-light]

Grimes - Sagrad Прекрасный (Reversed)

[storiesfromthera]

How most roommate mediation meetings go

[journotosapro]

The students I work with and supervise are absolutely amazing. 

They're going to do some incredible things, and I can't believe I got to spend the last two years with hilarious, ridiculous, dedicated RAs. 

[grimes-jpeg]

I fell asleep and woke up with sagrad in my head, it's just such a perfect song

[studentaffairsgradstudent]

The Real Reason why I'm applying to PhD programs

So I can say this :)

[storiesfromthera]

When a drunk resident claims that they are sober

[journotosapro]

When an almost-pro makes a mistake

Every mid-semester, I send out a Google survey to my RAs just to gauge where we’re at - how their fellow RAs are doing, what I can improve on, is the RA job meeting their expectations?

One response blew my mind: “Why are the men held to a different standard?”

I’m so torn. 

I love that my RAs start these types of conversations. They observe and see an issue, an injustice, a bias. They want to have conversations about these topics. They appreciate when they are brought up by myself or another RA; all it takes is asking “why?”

What makes me mad, though, is the realization: I have clearly held the men and women on my staff to different standards. 

All of my RAs are phenomenal, whether it’s the relationships they create or the advertising that goes up for programs. They are every definition of the word incredible. We talk about microaggressions. I ask my RAs to think about how they approach programming with their residents and with each other to consider SES. Language is a large part of their development to include all identities.

And there I am happily shocked to see a creative bulletin board by a male RA. There is slightly more enthusiasm in my “wow!” when I see a male RA’s decked-out hallway. For the women on my staff, it’s an established expectation. 

It’s hard to realize when you’ve messed up. Although unintentional, I have clearly been unfair to my staff. 

As much as it bothers me, I’m also glad.

It is these conversations that make you think about your biases, values, experiences and privileges. They aren’t just buzzwords; they are actual thoughts that affect your judgment - good or bad, unintentional or intentional.

Social justice education is constant education, which is why we need to start these conversations about “why?” 

That’s all it took for me to realize my unfairness. As educators and SA pros (or, soon-to-be ones), we need to make those hard realizations and move forward. Encourage your students to ask “why?” Encourage them to begin dialogues. Encourage them to be a part of the conversation.