How important are first impressions? Between seven and seventeen seconds is all the time it takes to form one. First impressions run deep, last long and could take years to redefine if poor assessments are made. These reactions are key to retail stores, job interviews and, especially, prospective students to a private university. That’s where my job gets its thrill and the source of my motivation to do my best every day.
The admissions department at a private university must excite the student about spending a little bit more for a whole lot more than a public university could offer them. We do that with campus tours, dorm tours and two-day events called Preview Day. This year I have the privilege of being the Preview Day intern and am in charge of coordinating housing, handling registrations and confirmations with every student, youth group and parent who decides to grace our campus throughout the event.
The main objectives and duties I have for Preview Day are to take in hundreds of e-mail registration forms and build a spreadsheet containing all that information. I also line up enough Point Loma student rooms for each student and youth pastor from all over the nation. I also make sure there are enough reliable student volunteers to deliver hundreds of pieces of luggage to the specific dorm rooms. The job sounded daunting, but I was ready and willing to accept the challenge.
What a challenge it was. StrengthQuest says one of my top strengths is arranger, meaning that I like to find new, better and more efficient ways to handle tasks. This is where the registration forms and countless hours lining up housing made me energized and eager to conquer the job. Those who know me pretty well know I don’t live my life under too much organization, if it happens it happens, this job really pushed the organization factor and I felt like I accomplished something massive when I was finished.
The most difficult part of my job is trying to get current Point Loma students over the fact that high school students will be sleeping on their floors. I can have the best spreadsheet or luggage handling plan ever created, but if these students don’t have a room to sleep in and must sleep in a lounge, the chances of them ultimately picking Point Loma goes down significantly.
My study habits and time management skills have been improved by this job. The week leading up to the major Preview Days meant nothing but working on making the event flawless and that meant planning ahead with my school work and making sure it got done early, but right.
Over the course of the year, this job has taught me a lot about my future and myself. I had some thoughts about wanting to work full time as an admissions counselor after graduation. Now, I know for sure I would love to do something like this after school.
No comments:
Post a Comment