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		Some thoughts on being a "New Professional" . . . Now that "Reality" has set in! By Carol T. Boucher Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Quinnipiac University Many of you who are considered "New Professionals" have actually logged two or three years in graduate school spending time as Grad Hall Directors being paid meager wages for work only an imbecile could call "part-time." You have an abundance of experiences. You have supervised RA's, programmed, counseled students, had some level of experience with a judicial system and you felt you were absolutely ready for your first full-time job so you could finally show everyone how good you really can be. Your year started with your professional training with your new team. You spent your time meeting new people, learning new policies and procedures and getting settled in your new home. Then, your staff arrived...your very own RA staff. RA Training was almost euphoric. The closeness and "teamness" you felt as you began this year was really different than anything you've ever felt before. You were ready to take on the world. AND now . . . a month or so into the year, it's not exactly the way you thought it would be. You're finding that the hours you spend working are incredible compared to the hours you spend on personal time. The level of paperwork and bureaucracy is more than you expected. Students are demanding your time at all hours and never thank you for your help. You're learning that as long as the weather stays warm students prefer to socialize "outside" and in large numbers and you are expected to keep them "under control." Finally, the level of your responsibility in discipline (both educational and punitive) is far greater than you imagined, and talking with parents as the "professional" in charge of their child is a real challenge on a good day. You are tired, feeling unappreciated and wondering if you made the right choice in entering the world of Residence Life! The purpose of this article is to let you know a few things. The most important is that you are not alone and what you are feeling is not unusual! You are simply at the point when you have to come to terms with the fact that you do not know everything, even with all of your skills and talents, and you still have a lot to learn. The best part is that we as Student Affairs professionals love to help and love to teach. In that vein, I offer you a few "Pearls of Wisdom" from a "Seasoned" housing professional. I hope they are of some help. SUPERVISION: Supervision is not a finite skill. It's a journey. Each circumstance is new and each offers an opportunity to learn. People are all different, and even though a situation is similar to one you've already had, it's a new ballgame. You don't have to be the "expert." You don't have to know everything. Let your staff help you and listen to them. Recognize individual differences. Being consistent does not always mean doing exactly the same thing with different people. It's more about fair application of policy. Everyone will not like you all of the time. Don't spend too much time worrying about it. Don't confuse your roles with your staff. They need you to be their leader and they need to be able to count on you. They don't want you to be their peer. If you confuse your roles, you confuse your staff. Don't be afraid to ask for help. DISCIPLINE/JUDICIALS: Discipline is an important part of education. Don't be afraid to take a hard line. Too much "counseling" can backfire and students can misunderstand what you are really trying to say. Take risks and stand up for your own decisions. Learn your new system before you complain about it or try to change it. It's okay to give a student a second or even a third chance. If it works, you'll not see that student again judicially. If it doesn't, you'll have another opportunity to educate. Don't be afraid to ask for help. ADMINISTRATION: Understand and appreciate the importance of doing things right and in a timely fashion. Those who report to you and to whom you report will know they can count on you. Ask questions, or you'll be held responsible for something you should have known. Always document things that are important. If it isn't written down, it never happened and you'll be held responsible for it. Understand existing relationships and don't just try to change them. Be patient. The people with whom you work have probably been there longer than you. Work hard. RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLLEAGUES AND SUPERVISORS: Avoid competition with your peers. It's a waste of valuable energy and makes you look small. Keep professional affairs confidential. Your first loyalty is to your supervisor and to your department. Try to accept and not judge your colleagues. Understand that you are on a new professional level. Your personal needs are not your supervisor's top priority. Volunteer to take on new tasks. Showing initiative is NOT kissing up! Learn all that you can. Never respond with "It's not my job." When feedback is given to you, listen and don't get defensive. Create solutions instead of dwelling on the problems. Don't WHINE! GETTING A PERSONAL LIFE: Get your own life and keep it separate from work. Establish boundaries. Keep your work in the office. Keep your private affairs PRIVATE. Keep (or find) your sense of humor. It will be your best friend and people will like you more. Having been in this profession for over twenty years, I can think of no other work that is as challenging, as non-boring, as meaningful and as much fun. Working with young people and having the opportunity to impact their lives is a gift. I know all too well that this work is HARD and that is why we need to help each other. Make sure you ask for the help that you need. You colleagues, your supervisor and even other Student Affairs professionals are wonderful resources and you need to take advantage of them. Although you may feel like you're taking a risk, asking questions will show others that you really want to learn. People appreciate that. About the Author Carol Boucher is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Residential Life at Quinnipiac University, where she has worked for over 20 years. Carol has been involved with ACUHO-I and NEACUHO throughout her professional career. She has served NEACUHO in the roles of President, Past-President, Host Co-Chair and Chair of the Regional Self-Study Committee, and is a recipient of NEACUHO's Distinguised Service, Outstanding Service, and Lifetime Service Awards, as well as a Case Study Winner. She has presented numerous programs throughout her career, and has worked as a consultant specializing in issues of supervision and management strategies.