Student's in Transition Conference

The Student's in Transition was hosted Nov. 8-10 at the Marriott Columbia. I wasn't able to stay the entire weekend due to other obligations due to being a RM. The Conference was very informative. I attended several sessions relative to "students in transition"

The first session was regarding Seniors in Transition by . This concept of develop programs for senior students to help transition them towards graduation was interesting. Being one of only two ugrads present. The other was from U of West Indies in Jamaica. Of all the programs U. of West Indies program seemed to be the most service learning based. But I think the individual attention that was paid to the students is attributed to the size of the institution and the programs were executed by who, I understood to be comparable to a RLC at USC.

My suggestions for USC is that a senior in transition program would be very helpful but only if presented as a session or optional seminar. I do not think enough students will register for a required class, considering the vigor of most senior schedules. Personally, I have 21hrs including two capstone courses that cover Public Relations Campaigns and Public Relations Management and I will not sit through another presentation aside for my requirements for graduation.

The conference overall was really interesting because it was the first time I really was able to converse with HESA professionals outside USC. I learned that the issues facing my insitution are similar to other insitutions. Regardless, the campus size, demographic, and socio-economic levels or region of the country student affairs professionals have to address the total needs of the student often times with limited resources.

Words for first year students

I recently came across a very positive blurb on being young, free and a student. This blurb embodies what I encourage all first year students do to when seeking to make the best experience out of his or her college experience. The author is unknown and I would not dare claim it as my own.

" live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have FUN, be CRAZY, be WEIRD. Go out and screw up! You're going to do it anyways, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn for your mistakes: find the cause of the problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human."

I would go further to say that college are the best years of your young life. What other opportunity do you have to make mistakes and it be ok. Some mistakes weigh heavier than others, but they are still just that mistakes. It is only when you fail to learn from your mistakes that the event was in vain.

Challenge yourself to step out your comfort zone and meet someone new. I have always claimed that I try to meet a new person EVERY single day, and since my junior year I have actually put it into practice. Walking up to random people has its pros and cons. Pro it has expanded my network of associates immensely. Con because I have made myself a person that can be easily identified leadership and growth opportunities avail themselves. This is a good problem to have.

Leadership on a college campus is easily acquired to those who are willing. The pool of those who are willing is shrinking faster than the minority rate at USC. I challenge you to step outside the "minority" organizations and seek opportunities elsewhere.

Essentially, have fun, make mistakes, meet do people and step out the box that your parents and rearing have formed for you until now.

Until next time.

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Cause Simon(a) says so...

Society is really interesting. Our society...across the world has developed this idea that we are capable of assigning what someone is going to grow up and become. And our actions further perpetuate the assumption of these roles. I am being very vague here with my statement. Society has determined what is a guy and what is a girl. Ok...I understand that when you are born, there are just some things that can't really be argued. Biologically there is male, female or inter sex (based on anatomical, chromosomal and hormonal characteristics) but that is a biological sex. Gender is the characteristic assigned based on external sex organs. Follow me?

Think back to the last time a friend, family member or associate was expecting a child or recently delivered a child. The first question that anyone ever ask is, "is it a boy or girl?" No one ever cares if the child is healthy, have all 10 fingers and toes...but is it a boy or a girl. Are we so caught up in buying blue for boys and pink for girls that we deny the child an opportunity to develop gender neutral. Have you ever seen little boys rough housing and justified, "boys will be boys" or "insist a little girl play with her tea set". What happens to those individuals who decide
to challenge a gender conforming expectation. What if a girl wants to rough house with the guys and if a boy wants to have a tea party. It seems to be more accepted that females are allowed to blur the gender lines a little bit. When she is young she is called a tom-boy and as she gets older there is the expectation that she will grow out of the phase a join a conforming society of expected gender roles. Guys don't have nearly as much freedom of expression

A few definitions so you can keep up with this entry.
*gender conforming- a term used to describe a person who by nature or choice conforms to gender expectations of society (genderstraight)
**gender binary- a social classification that divides gender identity into masculine and feminine with expected gender roles, gender expression and characteristics for each one
***genderqueer- term used to describe a person who crosses gender lines through appearance and behaviors without necessarily trying to pass as a different gender; also used to describe a person who challenges the gender binary and/or gender stereotypes.

No that the verbiage is out the way. A few questions or things to think on. Isn't it interesting that as a people we are so concerned with labeling something that we give things with labels more labels. Do we find comfort in the ability to explain something that we don't understand.

Back to what Simon(a) says. Males have a social expectation to be manly men. Men don't cry, show emotion, or do any other behaviors that would otherwise show them to be feminine. Has this crippled men from a inability to develop emotional responses to how they feel. if a guy tears up, not even cry how do other men view them. If a female wants to be strong and never be told never, or even play rough with the guys is she then not lady-like.

Have you ever seen someone, male or female that didn't fit the labels that society has created. Have you walked pass someone with so "funky" or "questionable" a style at first instinct it, "oh they must be gay." Do you stifle others creativity and freedom of self expression from fear of being mislabeled as something they are not. Per a earlier post. We are a people who judge quickly and do not avoid assumptions because someone doesn't fit the mold for what is "acceptable" they are automatically labeled weird.

I challenge you to step out the little box the doctor put you in many years ago and showcase the self expression that exist inside each of you. I am not telling every girl to go invest in big shirts and baggy jeans nor am I telling males to whip out the pumps. But I am challenging you to be unique, be different. be random even. And not judge others based off of what you see or think you see. You will only be limiting the potential for great lifelong relationships with people based off an expectation society has created as to the role of boys and girls.