I am here at the NASPA2010 annual conference in the great city of Chicago. While the weather has left something to be desired, the conference so far has been great. I spent some time exploring Universal Design principles, thought critically about how my institution engages commuter and adult students and listened to a fantastic group of educators explain how they expanded their common reading program into a full fledged experience. The most thought provoking part of my day was the keynote speech with Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State under George W. Bush. I confess I arrived at the session ambivalent and not really sure what to expect. To my surprise, she was funny, relevant and engaging. Dr. Rice shared personal stories about higher education based on her experiences as a student, professor and provost. She told poignant stories about a crisis of confidence that caused her to change her major, the value of education in her family and her father’s legacy as a student affairs professional.
As intellectually stimulating as this day was, my key take away from the day had nothing to do with the sessions I attended. For some reason, as I was making my way to the 8:30 AM session with Dr. Rice, I found the conference venue incredibly difficult to navigate. I felt like I was surrounded by people I did not know, who all seemed to know each other. I felt stressed that if I didn’t arrive on time, I would be embarrassed to walk in late to the session. I got annoyed that there weren’t very good signs pointing the way. I almost gave up trying to find the session.
As I was on the verge of retreating back to my hotel room, I realized this was the first time in years I had been immersed in something completely foreign and new. If you were at the conference you might have seen the light bulb go on over my head as I stood there with a dumbfounded look on my face. That was me blocking the escalator (sorry!). I was viscerally experiencing some of the feelings that my first year students experience on their first days on campus. Don’t get me wrong, I try new things, especially technological things, in my job all the time. I try new food, new restaurants, new work outs and new routes to work. However, all of those things have an element of familiarity to them. This was different as I was completely encompassed, completely in this new, foreign experience. I may start a new project at work, but I am comfortable in my job. I may try a new restaurant, but with old friends. Very rarely am I in a new environment surrounded by unfamiliar faces trying to find my way.
As I literally struggled to find my way through the conference, I pledged to remember this feeling as I work through the craziness that is August in Student Affairs. I also decided to make sure I get completely immersed in something new and foreign every once in awhile. It is a powerful reminder of the experience of our new students
