What I Learned "Crashing" a Conference

I've recently been feeling in a bit of a rut and disconnected from the greater higher ed community. I knew I needed to do something to feel refreshed.

Knowing NASPA was coming to Philly, I reached out on social media to see who I knew that was going. That has always been the most valuable part of conferences to me; growing and maintaining my professional network. It also is always cool to meet people in person I know purely through digital means.

It would have felt like a missed opportunity to not see folks who would only be a short drive away. I never really felt concerned about "crashing" the conference (not paying to attend but meeting people who did). I didn't try to sneak into any sessions or anything. It just does not make sense to me to have to pay exorbitant fees to end up mostly just hanging out with people anyway and skipping the tired old sessions they offer. 

I've written before about my disdain towards national higher ed conferences like ACPA and NASPA. We're in need of a major change with how we provide professional development with these gatherings, which is (and probably will be) a whole other blog post. The cherry on top to all this was that most of the people I met with spoke with displeasure about the session offerings. This feeling is pervasive and indicative of where things are right now when it comes to professional development in higher ed. It's too expensive, it's not relevant, and it isn't giving many people what they want (or need) to grow professionally.

Regardless, what I ended up learning through this process is that you have to sometimes just do what you know is right and what you need. I learned the value of personal (and professional) relationships and that it's important to cultivate them in person when you can. I learned I have great people in my corner and that it doesn't matter how long it might have been since you saw someone last, they'll still be happy to chat if you reach out. I learned that nothing will ever change until we disrupt the status quo.

I feel like I might continue this renegade trend as much as I can. I'd be happy to welcome others as we subvert these outdated paradigms and blaze our own way making experiences that are more valuable and accessible.

I'd love to hear other's thoughts on this. Please reach out via the comments or on Twitter (@HigherEd_Geek).

Worlds Collide: The Divide Between Gamblers And Gamers

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Obviously, love for games is synonymous with both video gamers and gamblers. So, why is there a divide between these two groups, at all? Well, from years of gaming, it’s easy to see that there are different motivations afoot! With a little snooping, it’s obvious that there’s a difference between the two communities. So, here’s a post to give you an insight into the distinction between and gambler and a gamer.

Of course, there are many similarities between the two communities. For one, without games, neither group would exist. And, with playing a game being both group’s goal, this is the primary connection they have with each other. But, there are other similarities, as well. Both communities are notorious for aggressive behavior in-game, and even out of the game, on forums and social media. Gamblers and gamers are also often looked at as reclusive people, only socializing when their favorite game is on offer. On a lighter note, you’ll also find both groups constantly vying for cheaper or free experiences. You’ll find the free spins guides and tricks to get free games that you find online to be very popular amongst the groups. So, what is really different about these groups?

Well, even though both parties will play games, they will play them for different reasons. For a gamer, there are loads of reasons to play. A lot of games have no competitive edge at all and are played simply for the story or fun factor. Other games, like MOBAs and FPSs, can get extremely competitive. For most gamblers, it’s all about the rush before and after a win. For example, most gamblers won’t be having much fun, if they’re losing.

A lot of the enjoyment both parties get from playing is found in the adrenaline rush the games cause. But, the chemicals in our bodies are triggered by different things. Gambling releases these chemicals because you’re in a position of risk. You have to out think, or out draw, your opponent. Within video games, adrenaline can be present because of many factors. Certain games will cause more chemicals to be released because of the action involved. A lot of games are based on pin point accuracy and reaction time, as well as strategy.

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Different people will play games or gamble for different reasons. But, most people do it all for the rush. Ultimately, your preference between video games and gambling is probably based on your age and social group. OIder generations and people from poorer backgrounds are more likely to gamble. Whereas young people and those considered to be nerdy will tend towards games. It can also depend on what you go hooked on first, as well. Both videos games and gambling require a dependency to remain fun. Whether you do it for the rush or because you want to escape the real world, you’re still dependent on it for your everyday entertainment.

These two communities are very similar. With the only real divides being the reasons for playing, generational gaps, and prejudices that are hard to shake. Whether you game or gamble, you’re still part of an elite community filled with interested people and new friends to make. So, drop the differences, and embrace the similarities.

#SAGeeks - A Life of Geekiness

I've been pretty geeky my whole life. From playing video games for as long as I can remember, to old photos of me reading Spider-Man comics as a kid, to pretending to be all my favorite superheroes with my brother and my friends when we'd play outside as kids. I've always been obsessively into the things I love, wanting to know everything I can, and always appreciated learning and doing well in school. I was kind of awkward and quirky, which led to me not having the best time making friends, but I could at least always escape in the worlds of my favorite video games.

Life was hard for me at times because of my geeky tendencies. I'd sometimes rather engage in my own personal interests then go out and do anything else, or care to connect with other people based on what they were into. I eventually grew to appreciate my own enthusiasm for what I was into, and work to appreciate the same energy and passion in others. People love to talk about what they're into, so I found a way to connect and make friends even if we didn't share my niche interests.

Reading books like Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth and Nerds helped me come to terms with my geeky personality. It wasn't a flaw, like I felt for so long (especially during my hormonal teenage years). It was an asset I could use to my advantage. I could showcase my geek pride in my office and it would help me, not hinder me. There were other people who struggled like me, I wasn't the only one.

Creating this site and being a part of programs like Rutgers Geek Week and connecting with professionals in higher education who care about this stuff has really helped me develop as I continue through the early phase of my career. While I don't know what the next few years will exactly look like, I at least have a lot more confidence in myself and have a positive outlook for the future.

This #SAGeeks series will seek to shine a light on others like me who live an especially geeky life and work in the realm of higher education and student affairs. They geek out about a lot of different things; theater, board games, professional wrestling, comics, and much more. They'll talk about the highs and lows of being geeks/nerds and proudly featuring your passions. You'll hear from professionals all over the country. I encourage you to reach out and geek out with them!

Also, shout out to my editors Jenn Osolinski and Lynne Meyer who approached me with the idea in the first place. And check out my resources page for more geeky goodness.

Tips to Connect Your Students to Mental Health Resources

* This post was originally featured on The OOHLALA Blog.

Our students deal with a lot of stress, anxiety, and social pressures. And they’re not alone. According to a report cited by a Huffpost College article, the number of students who report suffering from depression, anxiety and social anxiety, is rising. These students need guidance to develop the skills necessary to cope with their mental health issues.

Here are some tips to help students utilize mental health services on campus and set themselves up for success:

Use Mental Health First Aid

Every student affairs professional should take a  Mental Health First Aid course. This training helps you to gauge the intensity of someone’s depression, substance use, anxiety etc. It also trains you on what to listen for and what to ask.

One of the things this training provides is “mental health literacy.” It teaches you to define terms like “depression,” “anxiety,” “trauma,” and “substance abuse.” Through understanding these terms you will be better prepared to assess your student’s needs.

The Mental Health First Aid course also provides tips on how to have conversations with students so that they feel safe and able to open up. For instance, they recommend trying to avoid “why” questions. “Why” questions often come off as accusatory, or judgmental. Put your students at ease by not questioning their reasoning or actions. Be patient, welcoming, and empathetic.

Offer Personal Support

Some students won’t want to go alone to get help, or just don’t know what the experience is going to be like. The more you can ease their concerns, the better. Perhaps go with them or explain how a typical session will go. If you know any of the counselors you can give a personal recommendation or help the student figure out who they’d be most comfortable talking to.

The more we can personally guide students towards connecting with mental health resources, the better. The trust you’ve built through assessing where they are, listening to them, and validating them will help you guide and support them as they take the emotional risk of connecting with a mental health professional.

Follow Up Afterwards

It’s important for us to continue to support our students as they connect with mental health support. You should check in regularly to make sure everything is going well and to see if there is anything more you can do to help.

Troubleshooting the Mental Health Process:

• If the person or place they’re going to isn’t a good fit:

  • Help them find someone or somewhere else to go.

• If they’re having difficulty opening up:

  • Explain how important this process is and how much help it can be.

  • Help them set goals for their discussions so the student feels more prepared going in.

Students might give up if they feel frustrated. Being there to support them in getting counseling is important. You need to help your students commit to the process so they can get its full benefit.

It’s important that the student receives continued validation and recognition for making the effort. It can be emotionally exhausting to put yourself out there and to work through some perhaps deep seated emotional baggage. Make sure your students know that you support them.

Getting mental health support is a great undertaking for anyone. Students, especially are particularly vulnerable due to the amount of independence they’re currently figuring out. You play an important role in helping students. It’s up to you to communicate the value of mental health resources; connect students to these resources; and ensure the process is going smoothly for them. The stresses of modern college life are certainly a heavy burden, but with the right support, every student should be able to shoulder them and succeed.

How to Embrace Social Media as a Tool to Connect with your Students

* This post was originally featured on The Student Affairs Hub.

Social media has become pretty ubiquitous in our lives now. News is made from it and spread through it. We reference it offhand in our conversations with each other,  and we've developed new terms to describe it.

While it may be still a bit foreign to some professionals at higher education institutions, it is commonplace for our students. When given the proper attention, social media can be an effective asset in our outreach to students. It also helps to build a feeling of community on campus.

Whether you're an entry level academic advisor, hall director, or the president of an institution, you can be a powerful presence for students on social media. Your social media presence will help them feel heard, valued, and cared for.

I personally have taken a few different stances that I hope help me connect better with my students. I make my Twitter publicly available, (it's even on my business cards). I accept requests from students on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. I don't seek them out, but if they connect with me first, I make sure to accept their invitation.

Connecting with my students in this way helps me to celebrate their successes, build their network, and be more accessible to them should they need me. I've never had any issues with making myself more available rather than guarding myself behind virtual walls. No student has ever abused this. However, even if there was an instance where someone used my good will inappropriately, I'd still make myself available to all my other students who need me. I wouldn't want to let them down based on a single student who needs some educational conversations about their behavior.

Another stance I take that many professionals hopefully take as well, is that I don't have a "personal" account and a "professional" account. I just have my one Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. I really don't believe anyone should have separate accounts for stuff like that unless someone has a brand they're trying to build that they want to be separate from themselves.

I don't have strict standards about what people should or shouldn't do on their social media channels. Students just need to be comfortable with employers, friends, and family seeing whatever they post.

While someone can try to ignore social media, it is an omnipresent, constant, global influence in our lives. It is something that I view as an asset and resource. I embrace and love social media for the connections and learning that can happen through it.

By maximizing the potential of social media for sharing your story, (or your institution's), you will see success in your personal and professional efforts.

Geeky Office Décor Series: Tyler Miller

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Tyler Miller, Assistant Director for Housing & Residential Services at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Here's what Tyler had to say about his space:

"As you can see my office isn’t the typical “professional” looking office. I have a ton of stuff. The reason for this is during my day. Most of the people who come into my office are students and/or people who work with students. My office is meant to be a “conversation starter.” Generally someone comes in and finds something they can right away connect with me about without me digging and asking a lot of questions. Whether it’s my Dunder Mifflin shirt, my Batman, Star Wars, Doctor Who stuff, or my sports memorabilia, there is generally something for everyone. You can’t see it in my pictures, but I even have a working 8 track player with 8 track tapes. There are also tons of pictures of my previous staffs. Again, you can’t see it, but one of my former staff members was such a Doctor Who fan, as part of a secret Santa gift exchange she designed a painting where she wrote my families name in Gallifrayen. The people who come into my office and connect with me aren’t always the people who would connect out in the halls. It is a “safe space” for discussing all sorts of pop-culture questions such as “what do you think about Ice-Man coming out?” or “Did you hear what happened with the Bat-woman comic book?” I am able to discuss social justice issues in the safe context of pop-culture and comic books, and it opens a new world for me. Finally – I love sharing the process of critical thinking as we discuss topics such as “who would win – Batman or Superman?” (Batman, obviously) or “is there anyone Batman couldn’t beat?” (No, obviously).

So there ya have it."

What I really like about Tyler's office is the diversity of interests showcased as well as Tyler's emphasis of critically analyzing pop culture like comic books (I always joke that I take my entertainment very seriously). Looking for the deeper meaning in the stories we all share is an amazing way to connect. Those emotional bonds are a powerful positive force for us to feel understood, not just through the story but also through others understanding it (and us) as well.

Many thanks to Tyler for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Michael Chavez

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Michael Chavez, On-Campus Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Kansas.

Here's what Michael had to say about his space:

"My love for Batman (and movies in general) has always been a part of who I am. I'll never forget the day I settled into my current office because I knew that I could deck it out in all the ways I always wanted.

I meet with a lot of students, almost every day. Each time a family or student comes in to my office, they always look to the poster of the Dark Knight or the Legos. That's an instant conversation starter and we could talk for a good 5-10 minutes just on those two things in my office. I always somehow work in a Marvel/DC movie reference into conversations with students and families and it always seems to break the ice quite a bit. It's memorable for them. I think it's also fascinating to see that their reactions when they see how much of a geek I am in regards to Batman."

What I really like about Michael's office is the big impact even just a small item can have. Something as small as a Lego figurine that someone notices and connects with creates a bond of shared interests that allows for a positive interaction to be had. I also love the Ghostbusters stuff and the Back to the Future Delorean Legos in Michael's office (I think I might have to get some of those toys for myself!). Hopefully this post inspires folks to put even a small bit of themselves into their offices so they can help bridge gaps with their students and colleagues.

Many thanks to Michael for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Alfred Day

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Alfred Day, Student Affairs Case Manager at University of California - Berkeley.

Here's what Alfred had to say about his space:

"Most folks who know me know that I can speak at length about the cultural importance of superheroes in general and Superman specifically. My primary work these days is working with students in distress. These are students who are generally at a significant crisis point whether that be in conjunction with a mental health issue, a death in the family, and food or shelter security issues.

While I love Batman, and he is today's most popular character, it amazes me how often students in dire straits will pick up the Superman statue and really connect with the idea. I frequently use the statue as an opening to the conversation of the help that we can provide.

Kind of one of the coolest things about my job."

What I really like about Alfred's office is how a simple item can have a profound impact and start a conversation. Especially with Alfred's job, he has some hard conversations with students who are going through difficult circumstances. He can use all the help he can get getting through to students, and a small Superman figure can help do that. It just goes to show you how important anything and everything can be to someone, no matter what it is or how small it might be.

Many thanks to Alfred for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Dan McDowell

This week we're featuring the office of Dan McDowell, Residence Director at Stonehill College. Here's what Dan had to say about his office:

"I recently moved to my new office in June and slowly but surely I’ve been adding my own personal nerdy touch to it. It started with bringing a growing collection of Funko POPs from a variety of fandoms like Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and (my largest collection) The Avengers, including my recent additions of Miles Morales and the new Thor. Since they are the first thing students usually see when they walk into my office they are quick to ask questions about them or my interests. It’s been especially helpful during conduct hearings- particularly with students I haven’t sat with before. In one meeting I was able to spend a good 5 to 10 minutes discussing the upcoming Deadpool film with a student which I think humanized me and allowed the student to feel more comfortable and open throughout the remainder of the hearing.

They have also been a great tool connecting to RAs. It isn’t unusual for RAs from other areas to stop by and say hello when visiting friends or coworkers in the area. On one occasion an RA and I were able to chat about the comics we were both reading which led to a variety of other conversations involving shared interests and a stronger relationship. Finally, the latest additions to my office are my Star Wars Lego sets and decor. I had bought them over the summer just before moving and had intended to keep them in my apartment, but quickly discovered after moving I just didn’t have anywhere where they would be a good fit and so they came to my office. They have been a great conversation piece and allowed for me to share a bit more of my interest in science fiction with my residents and RAs as well.

Showing off my geekier interests in my office has been an incredible way to connect with students. Even something as small as my Game of Thrones-themed “Where’s the RD?” sign (not pictured) has residents stopping by to discuss their excitement over a shared interest and is able to jumpstart a conversation about any communities they’ve found on campus- whether friends or a club- that tie into these interests. It provides incredible leverage in breaking the ice with residents and helping them find new ways to get involved.

Now that I’ve started showing off my geeky side, I don’t think I’ll ever go back!"

What I really like about Dan's office (besides the Star Wars Legos and Marvel Funko POP! toys) is the simple, positive effect some small tweaks in his office had to change his interactions with students. I've had a similar experience, even with some staff members who pass by my office. I feel like there is no downside to bringing some of our authentic selves into our work spaces, it always gives the benefit of genuine connections to those around us.

Many thanks to Dan for sharing his story and space with us!

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!

Three Campus Community Connections to Enhance the Student Experience

* This post was edited from one originally posted on The Student Affairs Hub.

As the semester rolls on, I was thinking about how colleges and universities are a unique environment where there are a multitude of offices, departments, groups, and relationships that are hard to find elsewhere. These connections can last a lifetime and make a huge difference in a student's life. While some pathways like Greek organizations may be more common, there are plenty of other avenues to make connections on campus for your students that can be just as impactful, if not more so depending on what the student is interested in. I'd like to outline some of the ones I feel would be useful to professionals out there to recommend to their students or for students to take the initiative to do themselves.

Online Groups

Meeting new people can be tough, but sites like meetup.com, Eventbrite, and/or the myriad of Facebook groups all help to organize hangouts all across the country based on common interests like hiking, gaming, reading, or any other plethora of hobbies. I've found them to be a great way to meet new people in my community that are into what I enjoy. For students, this could be helpful to find other like-minded individuals in their local area that lead to possible job or volunteer opportunities. At the very least, it is a social involvement that is bound to have local staff and faculty members (as well as alumni) present, which leads into my next points.

Alumni

The graduates of any institution end up all over the country and in all sorts of different industries. They owe a lot of their success to their time at their alma mater, and are proud of where they got their degree. I can speak for myself and say that this is all very true. I can't make myself physically available and present at my alma mater so I make sure to support them financially. The Alumni Relations offices at any institution are going to have hundreds if not thousands of local connections with passionate individuals looking to connect with current or prospective students. This is a ripe pathway to great mentoring relationships which can lead to any number of other opportunities.

Faculty

While a lot of powerful, high-impact learning happens outside the classroom, I'd be foolish if I didn't mention the importance strong relationships with faculty can play as well. Students (or at least most of them) go to college to get their degree. They do this by attending classes taught by faculty. Unfortunately, it seems nowadays the relationship in the classroom is purely transactional. Faculty are a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be transformative to a student. Their position grants them a lot of influence and power as well as access to a lot of resources and opportunities. Faculty can give students engaging experiential learning opportunities through research or a being a teaching assistant. At the very worst, faculty can serve as their own sort of mentors for the students who find themselves drawn to academia.

I encourage you to think outside the box when looking to make connections with your community. There are some tried and true options out there but there are also so many more to choose from that may better fit your students' needs. In the end, it's these important connections we make for our students that help them stay and also help them succeed at college as well as beyond.