One of the major assignments in HIAD 7442, College Student Development, was the formal self-analysis paper. This assignment required me to incorporate a number of major development and learning theories discussed throughout the course into my personal experiences. Understanding these theories and how they helped shape my psychosocial and cognitive development allowed me to gain a clear understanding of how student affairs has aided in my personal development. 

The formal-self analysis paper also satisfies this competency. Through the process of reflection, I had to think about my current level of development and factors that have influenced it. Through my own definition of development, I identified areas of my life where new learning had occurred as well as how social, political and psychological influences that had influenced my personal development. 

Durning week ten of  LEAD 7000, I was given the responsibility to be placed in a leadership role and lead my peers in critical discussion about team safety, trust and vulnerability. I have led many of my peers in class discussion prior to this assignment, however, this occasion stands out to me because it was a time where I had to make a decision to pose a discussion question related to topics some may find personal. Through the process of reflection, I was able to see how my position as a leader aided in my peers personal reflection of their development as a leader.

During my role as an Orientation Academic Advisor, I was responsible for planning and presenting the 2015-2016 Arts & Sciences academic curriculum to incoming freshman and transfer students at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. Over the course of my internship, I was paired with a different advisor, and each week I was given a list of students to advise. Through careful planning, my partner and I were able to plan the curriculum presentation for each session, and I was able to create a foundational schedule for each student. I have attached the PowerPoint that I presented to each student as apart of the orientation Arts & Sciences program.

During the weeks of my internship, I had the opportunity to meet with many incoming students. One of my responsibilities as an academic advisor was to motivate and encourage students to utilize different campus departments. (e.g. Student Success Center, Study Abroad office, Career Services, etc...) Through each individual meeting with students, I encouraged the use of their campus resources that would assist them in reaching their academic related goals. Attached are the orientation notes I issued to students for week three.

In effort to provide the campus community with better service, the Career Services department transitioned to a new software system that combined the features of the previously used Optimal Resume and eRecruiting systems into a single system called TigerLink. The new system powered by Symplicity,  launched the spring semester of 2015. My responsibility as a Graduate Assistant in the office of Career Services is to manage and maintain the documents that are sent in for review. The change in systems required me to learn a new process on how to maintain control of the documents submitted. Attached is an e-mail sent to the office staff and campus community regrading the system change. 

In Adult Learning & Leadership, I was a discussion leader for my class. One of my responsibilities was to create a PowerPoint presentation on the material for that week. The PowerPoint I created allowed a visual aid for the class to better understand the material and outlined key concepts and theories. Paired with online discussion, involving technology into this project enhanced the online learning experience. 

In effort to build group commitment, I created a Week of Cheer that consisted of a week long of activities that engaged members of my department in healthy competition. One activity during the week was a group scavenger hunt. I divided the office members into two teams and encouraged team collaboration and commitment to solve each riddle. This week was a big success and aided in office bonding. Attached is an e-mail I sent out describing activities related to the Week of Cheer. 

For our final case study project in Student personnel Services, my peers and I had to utilize collective thinking skills to determine how the division of student affairs could best establish an environment and campus community that was accepting of all students and its constituents at Mid-South University. As a member on the taskforce, I teamed up with the rest of my peers to create a “Why Do You Hate Me Week” and a “So What Campaign” that would improve the campus climate, provide education and training for the campus environment, generate and develop awareness of LGBTQIA issues and provide sable staff for students. Together we prepared a budget and utilized our respective roles to address the issues in the case. Attached are the weeks we created as well as our individual initiatives for the campus community.