EMBRACE. ENGAGE. EMPOWER.
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As a student affairs professional, I strive for the holistic development of each student by; embracing, engaging and empowering the students with whom I interact.
Embracing each student involves offering them the gift of love through mentoring relationships and community development. It is in the context of safe, supportive and loving relationships that students are free to be themselves and wrestle with the many questions that are synonymous with the college experience. I strive to invest in each student through meaningful mentoring relationships and in creating loving, compassionate communities (Parks, 2000; Cloud & Townsend, 1999, Boleman & Deal, 2001).
Students are more successful when they are fully invested in their curricular and co-curricular experience. I desire for students to find places or activities on campus where they can get involved. I strive to partner with faculty and other student affairs professionals to seek opportunities for students to be invested in their educational experience. (Astin, 1984; Powerful Partnerships by ACPA/NASPA, 1998)
It is during the college years that students attain self-authorship; they become authors of their own life and form habits, beliefs, relationships, and identities that will carry them through life. It is part of my task to provide students with the skills and tools necessary to become responsible, confident adults during and after college. I aim to help remove roadblocks that would prevent students from practicing self-authorship. (Baxter-Magolda, 2004)
