On May 12th, 2016, I will officially earn my Masters Of Arts for the Organizational Leadership/Higher Education Program. This day has been dream since I was 18 years old and I’m so excited to obtain a life-long goal. Graduation will be the moment I have worked years for to achieve. With this forthcoming chapter of my life, I wanted to share how much the #SAGrad community has meant to me during my two years of graduate school. Although I am excited to make it to the final countdown of graduate school, I will miss being an #SAGrad, as it was a two year experience that shaped my values within the student affairs community. The weekend chats provided great information on topics such as social issues, graduate school life, and the struggles of the community in progressive ways. During this journey, I had the opportunity to network and work with some amazing rising leaders in student affairs. When I participated in my first #sagrad online chat, I felt at home sharing some of the same issues, experiences as many of my peers. This community has allowed me to learn important skills, grow as a professional, and seek new goals during my graduate experience.
The #SAGrad Community
Thanks to the #SAGrad community, I was able to communicate with graduate students around the world on social media. As I graduate with some of these amazing members, I feel like our team has made it to the land of success after completing our programs. Within the #SAGrad community, there are so many smart, passionate, and outstanding peers that make the field better by their outstanding character. Regular posters would become a part of my “online” SA team and a part of my graduate experience. This community allowed networking on real topics in a authentic and positive way. There are so many of your amazing members to thank personally but as a group, I want to say you’re all amazing people and I thank you for making my Sunday nights and twitter chats fun and interesting. For my fellow peers receiving their graduate degrees: congratulations, as we are so close to the finish line of this journey. We are moving towards new life experiences, passions, and success as I believe we will make powerful moves as a group.
Relating To Graduate Students
From my first moments within the SAGrad community, I felt a strong connection to all of the members and topics. As a rising Student Affairs Collective member, I decided to join an #SAGrad chat on the topic of “How Graduate Students Can Make A Difference,” which was one of the best topics during my first year. I commented on the value of sharing your voice within your institution and fighting for your beliefs in a positive way. I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback, vulnerability, and character of many members during the entire chat. I felt as if these members “got it” by expressing the positives and challenges within various fields. As a first year graduate student and Residence Director, this community helped to connect with the good, bad, and interesting moments of graduate school. From the humorous gifs of student affairs experiences to the “Final Thoughts” sections, I am so thankful to have the honor of sharing my experiences with a network of amazing student affairs members.
Advocating For the SAGrad Community
“As I work towards becoming an SAPro, I will remember to be an advocate for SAGrads and inspire them to keep changing the world one day at a time. To the SAC community and SAGrad family, thank you from the bottom of my heart as I transition from an SAGrad to an SAPro.”
To the current and future SAGrads, never forget to make your dreams into a reality and always be a voice for student success. Graduate students are a vital part of the SA community and you have a voice that matters.
> BONUS <
Podcast With Paul Pyrz on Leadership Programs
