Technologically Stunted

For most of my life, technology has never been an issue.  I grew up in a household where both parents were familiar with computers, internet, databases, and much more.  This was definitely not the case for most of my friends growing up in a blue, on the verge of turning white collar town.  Technology has never scared me nor deterred me.  It was another gadget and another skill to learn.  So today when I looked around a room of student affairs professionals and graduate students, I was surprised to see many who were not "on board." This is NOT okay. 

When I look around this campus I see iPods, iPhones, iPads, laptops, Blackberries, Androids, and other electronic devices that are working to keep the students connected to anyone and everyone.  So when I see an administrator or professional rejecting the technology our students are using to connect, I see them rejecting our students.  We set up these beautifully ideal task forces and brainstorming groups to come up with ways to connect, but do the powers that be embrace what they have to say?  Today Eric Stoller spoke about the Dean of Students at Boston University.  He is an administrator and a peer.  The Dean of Students has students following him and is connected to their lives and the life of the school.   Isn't that what we all want?  We want to be treated as equals and as peers and have a connection.  So why do we shut down and shut out our students? Why do we refuse their friendship request on Facebook or follower request on Twitter?  We are stunting the growth of our programming and our communities by communicating to our students they are not worthy of getting to know us. 

As a resident assistant and now supervisor of a tele-counseling program, I did not allow my students to be friends with me on Facebook or Twitter.  I thought it somehow diminished my authority.  It was not until today I realized my authority is not based upon my friendship status, but rather the way I interact and hold myself with these PEERS.  They have good reason to want to get to know me.  I should also want to get to know them.  My supervisory relationship will not be destroyed if I get to know my students on a deeper level, it will  be strengthened. 

My goal for the remainder of my year as an SAGrad, I want to focus on not rejecting technology, but using it as my ally.  I want to have conversations with those people who can influence the technology on campus.  I want to speak intelligently about the needs of our students and our department.  I want to take what I have learned today and use it. 



I refuse to remain technologically stunted because some feel it is ruining me as a professional.  I will use this power for good. 

An Abrupt Beginning

For the last year or two I had considered starting a blog.  It could have been my venting mechanism.  It could been my networking tool.  It could have been another way to stay connected to my family.  Each of those reasons exposed more vulnerability than the next idea. I was afraid I would share this blog, lose excitement, and quit posting.  I was terrified those reading it would only judge and I would lose face.  I was afraid no one would read it and I would feel no satisfaction.  In fact, what would I write about to be sure no one would be upset or offended.  It was not until the last few months when my mindset began to change.  

My cousin, an extremely intelligent worker, father, and friend, began his own blog in the last few months.  What you must know about my cousin is that he is meticulous and a perfectionist to an almost painful level.  He started his first blog and acknowledged how difficult it was to get beyond the perfectionism, to just start writing.  This was the first a-hah moment.  The next moment happened only an hour ago.  Through a wonderful opportunity in my Student Affairs graduate program, I was able to meet a radical in our field, Eric Stoller.  He told a story about his own blogging and the vulnerabilities that come with it.  He spoke to us about the importance of technology going beyond Facebook, Twitter, and other social media.  I found myself having opinions and drive to be a part of these conversations.  This was the final boost and ideas I needed to begin my very own blog.  

This blog will not be about my daily irritations.  It will not revolve around what I had for lunch or how my life is going at that very second.  It will however, chronicle my experiences and life as an up and coming student affairs professional.  Stories of my life and the people in it are bound to appear.  This blog is not meant to become viral, but meant to be an outlet and a source of information.  This blog is meant to use technology as a means to share information and gain greater insight into a field I am passionate about.  As a current graduate student I have millions of pieces of information being thrown at me daily.  Some of those pieces stick and I can explore them further on here.  An internal dialogue can take place and I can work through some of my own thought processes. 

My ultimate goal for this blog is self-serving.  I want to see my own growth.  I want to evolve in this technology.  If I don't blog for two weeks, I don't blog for two weeks.  However, I get the feeling that now that this is out there, my desire to post will increase.  

As for now, this is my abrupt beginning to an adventure in student affairs.