Student Affairs is an ever-evolving field that has only one constant, change. The changing landscape include the students whom are entering our institutions and bringing different perspectives, life experiences, and goals into their education. As a student affairs professional, the students I work with will be changing from year to year, and the professionals I engage with will differ depending on the institution, values, and morals they hold. I will consistently have to hold myself accountable and have the ability to challenge and change depending on my environment. Not only will I have to challenge myself, but also I will challenge and hold my students accountable to assist in their transition and ability to become well-rounded individuals and accomplish their academic and professional goals.

By embodying ideals and philosophies students gain a better understanding of who they are through the work they accomplish, while connection and appreciation of colleagues and peers creates opportunities for both role modeling and interconnectedness. Thinking in terms of values, ethics, ideals and beliefs, there are certain traits within student affairs that I seek to model and represent. These traits inform my own practice in my hopes to not only develop students but also enhance engagement and commitment to an institutional community. These traits are leadership and education, equality and diversity specifically in becoming a global citizen, and the value of creativity.

All of these traits are connected, but each means something different within the student affairs profession. Leadership and education focus upon the journey of a student entering higher education, experiencing social and academic engagement, and graduating successful. The end goal of a student graduating from a higher education institution is that they have gained an education in a topic that allows them to positively contribute to society. There is so much more though that goes into an education; the act of learning creates critical and analytical thinking, the ability to navigate through situations and problems, retain knowledge from others, and introduce peers and professionals to new ways of developing and learning education. This concept directly ties into leadership, among both student and staff; Someone who has the ability to enhance a group, speak their mind, and know when to take charge or allow others to lead, has been educated in some way. Educated in this case means being knowledgeable about different groups of people; different dynamics involved in self and peers, as well as how education can bring together that which is similar and different, through compromise. A great educator is a great leader, and a great leader is a great educator. As a student affairs professional I must embody these characteristics in order to truly connect, embrace, and guide students on a path of success. Being a leader also means modeling the behaviors that encompass education, emphasizing the importance of class, participating in extra curricular activities, and having a visible work life balance, are just some of the ways that I can educate students to become not only well-rounded students but also successful individuals.  

Within a growing global society, individuals and communities are becoming more and more interconnected on a global scale. International affairs are being broadcasted everyday, it is easy to turn on the television, on any day, and know what is happening on three different continents. As international information and collaboration become easily accessible, it is becoming a requirement that interactions between people of different cultures, races, ethnicities, sexes, etc… is a skill that is embedded within working professionals. My job then takes on the challenge of modeling and teaching students the importance of accepting and embracing diversity and inclusion. Everyone on this earth is a global citizen, and the sooner our students can engage within a global community, the sooner they will have the ability to connect with others on a global level. Being able to respectfully carry a conversation with a group of people whom have nothing in common with you is a skill that cannot be overlooked. Inclusion and acceptance are the ways in which friendship, kindness and understanding are fostered. In a world where equality is still not the norm, these traits will guide students in the direction of success. In turn by putting myself in situations with people who have different beliefs, speak different languages, or even look different than myself, and then create connections, is one way I can model and represent global citizenship. Infusing inclusion and diversity into my practice will create leadership and educational moments along the way, for all the students whom I interact with.

A practical value that is often overlooked and taken for granted in the student affairs profession is creativity. Students often look to play it safe. Creativity, which in the student affairs profession can be portrayed through innovation, is hugely important. With an ever-changing student and an ever-changing community, what has been done in the past cannot be relied upon for the future. Being a creative thinker involves looking at situations from different points of view, starting over and scraping the past ideas, trying to make something better in a different way, and most importantly continuing to engage students in new and innovative ways. I always need to be thinking outside box in order to find new ways to lead and educate students while also adapting to needs of my current institution. A small private liberal arts college will not facilitate events the same way a large public institution would. Understanding differences to create new and exciting opportunities is just another way, I as a student affairs professional, can model innovation and ingenuity to the students whom will need this skill when entering the work force in a professional career.

Though these are not all the values, ideals, and morals important to my practice, they are the ones that I feel exemplify my holistic student affairs philosophy and model real world and real life skills needed to graduate and enter the professional community. These are characteristics that should be available to students, but may not be accessible just in the classroom. I personally desire to educate and lead students in becoming citizens of the world whom approach inclusion and diversity in a creative manner. I feel this all encompassing ideal is one in which, if all professionals could embody, would create a successful student whom in turn would personify a better individual and member of society.