Evaluating My Competency

So, as far as evaluating my own competency in teaching my initial response would be that it is a skill that I severely need to work on, but that is when it is in the formal and intentional setting. I am not organized with my thought process, presentation style, or materials/schedule. If a group of students were to take a basic lecture class where I was the instructor right now, they would go straight to RateMyProfessor.com and rip me to shreds. However, if students took a discussion based, interactive class under my facilitation it would be a much different story. That is because I would teach through stories, and teach through the students. I would want them to learn more from each other than from me. I already practice this style of teaching in the way I lead Bible studies in my sorority. Guiding conversations with organized material, but generally letting the students choose the course.

I am constantly learning how to better facilitate and teach by picking up techniques from my favorite professors, becoming comfortable with challenging others’ ideas or playing devil’s advocate, and pushing my peers to dig deeper and go further.

I have much to learn, but currently my goal is to grow into a more put-together and organized person. Although I was a ten-year Girl Scout, my personal

motto is “I am never prepared.” Like I mentioned, I am all over the place and sporadic. My personal style could be described as always flying by the seat of my pants, because to the horror of many, I do not carry a planner. That knocks most people off their feet. Planners do not work well for me, they give me more anxiety than peace. However, I know they are a useful organizational tool forcing people to plan ahead and manage their time well. I do not intend to learn how to use a planner, but I do want to improve my time-management and planning skills. I realize that now I am an upperclassman, and it is time to get it together. I plan to do that this year by creating a weekly to-do list with estimated time required for each of my activities. I do not just want to do a job to finish it, I want to do a job well and thoroughly. I also plan to be more intentional with my words. As a junior, I can see that now more than ever I am being looked at and listened to for direction. My leadership positions in my organizations reflect this responsibility. Everything I say, do, and share on social media can be used as an opportunity to educate. In the past, I have often chosen to stay silent or not take a position, but in those moments I am choosing not to teach or impact someone with the knowledge I have gained. This year I will challenge myself to grow, share and facilitate healthy conversations on issues of diversity, higher education, and leadership. I challenge myself to do this through my blog, social media, and the stories I choose to report on in my broadcasting classes because those are all teaching opportunities.
Another element of higher education competency, is the ability to counsel and help students whatever their situation might be.

Counseling is providing emotional support and empathy to an individual in pressured circumstance. I am not very competent in this skills at all. I have recently decided that I am incredibly inept at developing close personal relationships. I am sometimes amazed that I have the friends that I do. It is not that I am not friendly and personal, it’s that it is hard for me to be vulnerable and emotionally available to those around me. Those in need are not looking for an answer to their problem, at least not right away and that is my natural

extinct.
Counseling is extremely important in student affairs, especially for freshman students and possibly transfer students. Transitioning into college life and independent living is a life-changing emotional adjustment and usually this is the first time they are separated from their stable support system, their family. Offices like New Student and Retention Programs, Residence Hall Association, as well as student organizations can provide that much needed-support, but the staff in those offices have to be well-prepared for whatever comes through the door.
I must grow in my ability to counsel others before I enter the professional world. I have a great opportunity to do that this semester with the forty new members that joined my chapter. They are looking for a support system, they are looking for mentors, and they are looking for guidance. I want to invest time into forming relationships with them, where they feel as though they can depend on me and turn to me for any concern or worry. I know this will take time and effort on my part, and more importantly letting down my wall to be emotionally available. I hope that this will be easier with these women who are searching for that support and are also looking for someone with experience. I am now that older, experienced person. I am no longer the mentee, it is time for me to be the mentor and invest the time and care that that has been poured into me, into others.
Contrastingly, advising is less about the emotional connection and support and more about the physical advice and suggestions based on knowledge and experience. Advisement plays a large role in student affairs professionals’ day to day role. Students do not always have a crisis, but they almost always have questions or need direction. Being able to advise a student is key to earning their trust and becoming a real resource to them. I am fairly competent in this skill. I feel pretty confident advising younger students on academic affairs, student involvement, and campus resources. I have this confidence because I know the value of my resources. I know that it is okay to allow myself to say, “I will get back to you on that.” Then, I will actually find the answer from an appropriate source and follow back up with them. Advisement is not always about how much you know, but how you know to use your resources.
The next competency in the skill set is conflict resolution. Conflict resolution describes the ability to problem solve. The ability to problem solve is crucial in any field, so although I am unsure of exactly how important it is in student affairs I hope to learn the significance of this skill throughout this semester. I believe I am a good problem solver, and peacemaker. I am quick on my feet and resourceful, and through my various leadership positions and academic courses have further developed this skill. My chapter is a bit infamous for being capable of “making it work.” Whatever the situation or conflict may be, I know how to make the best of it. I would like to continue to grow in this competency by being pushed outside my comfort zone, and being challenged with real-life student affairs conflicts to solve.