Looking Back - Moving Forward

Looking Back:

2012 has proven itself to be one of the most remarkable years of my life.  Embarking on a healthier lifestyle - for the first time in my 26 years really making a conscious daily effort to become more physically fit, adjust my eating habits, and get back in touch and further develop my spiritual identity.  Graduating with my masters; a feat that even I never thought I could have done only a few years before.  To acquiring my first professional job in student affairs - moving back to the east coast and currently being employed at Davidson College in Davidson North Carolina.  Finally got to be a supervisor of not just one, but two staffs of students.  And at this point I have successfully completed my first six months...and those are just the more significant events.

In reflecting on my year I am left pondering several questions...

What am I most proud of?  By far the greatest accomplishment I can think of is obtaining my masters degree.  All of the class work, internships, reading, learning, and teaching paid off in ways that I could not have imagined.  When people ask me why I went to Oklahoma State, I always tell them that within 30 minutes of being at Oklahoma State I knew it was the place for me.  To say that there are remarkable people there doing great things would be an understatement.  I knew as an undergraduate that I needed to experience a completely different environment from my liberal art/Philadelphia origins, but I had no idea how incredible different proved itself to be.  If it was not for having an incredible cohort as well as remarkable supportive friends, family, and co-workers, I would not have been able to have grown into who I currently am and have achieved my educational goals.

In what area(s) do I hope to grow?  One of my greatest goals is to continue to strive to be more educated and grow as an advocate in issues of social justice.  While I have grown significantly from my foundational understanding of social justice from my Quaker & SSJ education, being in Oklahoma for three years challenged me to understand how I live a socially just life.  Being a white male from a privileged background I have grown to realize that it is crucial that I challenge other white people, particularly white males that we need to do better and do more.  We have to acknowledge our role in the system and work to improve the system for all.
I also want to further my abilities/skills as a supervisor.  Ever since I was a RA my sophomore year of college, I wanted to supervise a student staff.  In my current role as an Area Coordinator I have the great fortune to supervise 19 student staff.  I want to continue to find new ways to help my staff grow individually and as groups.  I also want to find better means of supporting them in my goal of later in my career being able to supervise professional staff members.
Additionally, I am looking to continue my path toward a healthier self.  While I have made progress in becoming more physically healthy through committing to going to the gym at least four times a week.  I want to continue this growth by hopefully getting to a 34 waist size for the first time in my adult life.  I am also looking to commit myself to rediscovering my spirituality through Quakerism and becoming a member of the Davidson Quaker Society.

Moving Forward:

How am I going to keep evolving into the person I want to be? Education, commitment, challenge...and wait for it...support (I try hard not to make Sanford puns but sometimes I can't resist).  I love reading about higher educational issues, theories, and ways I can become a better practitioner and individual.  Committing everyday to finding ways to grow; maintaining a positive attitude, and making a difference.  Challenging myself to do the things I won't want to do (embracing the gym while simultaneously suppressing my sweet tooth, being one of the biggest challenges in this), and obtaining feedback so I can improve myself.  Additionally, not being afraid to ask for support, give support to my community, my co-workers, friends, and family.

Not sure about anybody else but I am excited to see what 2013 has in store!

Theme Song for today: The Best is Yet to Come - Frank Sinatra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmf1AYgYj6I