Full Transcript for Start Strong: Academic Advising Tips for a Successful Fall Semester

this is your pathway, not my journey but your journey. 00:02:22.641 --> 00:02:27.855 But essentially, we want them to understand what degree they're getting, how they're going to get to that degree. 00:02:27.855 --> 00:02:39.992 It includes curriculum pathways, understanding the bulletin, resources available, program rules for Teacher Ed majors, understanding the State Department rules for our Teacher Ed majors, and certification routes. 00:02:39.992 --> 00:02:42.162 And basically, again, just taking that ownership. 00:02:42.162 --> 00:02:42.954 Yeah. That's awesome. 00:02:42.954 --> 00:02:48.793 I know, I mean, I've loved getting to work in the office with y'all, but there's a lot more that goes into advising than you would think. 00:02:45.466 --> 00:02:48.793 Yes. 00:02:48.877 --> 00:02:50.002 S o that's great. 00:02:50.002 --> 00:02:50.711 All right. 00:02:50.711 --> 00:02:56.467 Robin, your advising focus is kinesiology, one of our College's fastest growing programs. 00:02:56.467 --> 00:02:59.469 Tell us a little bit about your role and the students that you work with. 00:02:59.637 --> 00:03:00.013 Yeah. 00:03:00.013 --> 00:03:13.401 So, in kinesiology, we have a team of advisors that work very closely together working with our students. We have two undergraduate majors: Exercise Science and Exercise Performance and Health Optimization. 00:03:13.401 --> 00:03:16.153 Exercise Science covers our pre-health majors. 00:03:16.153 --> 00:03:22.659 So, all of those students are preparing to apply to some kind of graduate professional program in the health field typically. 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:25.788 The majority of those are Physical Therapy. 00:03:25.788 --> 00:03:29.584 And we have a new Physical Therapy program within kinesiology. 00:03:29.584 --> 00:03:41.094 Some of those are looking at more medical, medical school, DO, Md, chiropractic, physical PA, those kinds of programs. 00:03:41.094 --> 00:03:46.475 So, they're able to kind of take that major and tailor it toward whatever program they're preparing for. 00:03:46.475 --> 00:03:49.562 And then our other major is more applied sports science. 00:03:49.562 --> 00:03:59.656 So it's, it's working -- it’s students working toward personal training, strength conditioning, coaching, anything under that health wellness fitness umbrella. 00:03:59.739 --> 00:04:02.199 That's awesome. Yeah. That's great. Okay. 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:05.078 So you both work with students every single day, right? 00:04:05.078 --> 00:04:09.539 So what do each of you enjoy most about serving as academic advisors? 00:04:10.750 --> 00:04:13.252 I would say probably the “aha” moment. 00:04:13.252 --> 00:04:20.300 Again, I mentioned my teaching philosophy earlier, my advising philosophy: advising-teaching, teaching-advising. 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:36.651 So, I would say, that “aha” moment, you know, when you've been working with a student and they all of a sudden they're like, “Oh, I get it,” or, “I understand how the pieces of

the puzzle meet together.” It's like, I promise, I'm asking you to do something for your own good, you know? 00:04:31.697 --> 00:04:36.651 Yes. 00:04:36.651 --> 00:04:38.987 So I would say that would be probably mine. 00:04:38.987 --> 00:04:39.362 Yeah. 00:04:39.362 --> 00:04:57.045 I think for me, it's kind of same thing the “aha” moment, but kind of having that front seat to their launch, you know, students coming from all different backgrounds and means and being able to come in and take advantage of the opportunities that are afforded to them here at Auburn. 00:04:57.045 --> 00:05:12.478 And just seeing that maturity develop and being able to kind of take ownership within their own education and, and their path, and sometimes they know exactly what it is they want to do, and sometimes it's a little bit more of a zig zag to get to that path. 00:05:12.478 --> 00:05:18.651 So it's really rewarding to kind of just be here and be on that front row to see that happen. 00:05:19.151 --> 00:05:20.360 I'm sure. That's awesome. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:20.903 Okay. 00:05:20.903 --> 00:05:28.119 So, going kind of -- going off of that: as the fall semester gets underway, you know, there's a mix of excitement, maybe a little anxiety for students. 00:05:28.119 --> 00:05:36.002 So, whether someone is brand new to Auburn or returning for another semester, what's your biggest piece of advice for like getting off to a strong start? 00:05:36.836 --> 00:05:45.595 I would say starting off first, and Robin and I were actually talking about this before the podcast, getting to know your faculty, getting to know your instructors. 00:05:45.595 --> 00:05:53.560 I know that is sometimes very difficult, and there have been great tools and resources out there for students of like how to do that, how to go about that. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:56.939 But your faculty, instructors, they want you to succeed. 00:05:56.939 --> 00:05:58.815 They want you to do well. 00:05:58.815 --> 00:06:04.279 And so I think it's just very important to start, off the floor, off the ground, having that positive relationship. 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:13.831 I also always joke with students, but they may write a recommendation letter for you one day, you know, they may be the ones who like help you get a job or, you know, whatever it may be. 00:06:13.831 --> 00:06:16.000 But again, having that mentorship guide. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:24.425 I would also say read your syllabus or your syllabi, treat it like a -- treat it like a contract, I guess you can say. 00:06:24.425 --> 00:06:30.555 You know, understand it, ask questions if you don't understand it and have a calendar. 00:06:30.555 --> 00:06:34.185 That is something in my UNIV class that I teach. 00:06:34.185 --> 00:06:41.526 That's something we do day one with first semester freshmen is, hey, if you don't have a calendar, I'll get you one. 00:06:41.526 --> 00:06:44.987 We'll print out copies, use your phone, electronic, whatever. 00:06:44.987 --> 00:06:51.285 But go ahead and spend like an hour or two, write everything in it like social activities to quizzes, tests, everything. 00:06:51.285 --> 00:06:54.831 That would probably be my start advice. 00:06:55.122 --> 00:07:01.211 Definitely get that planner and first day, first week of classes go through that syllabus. 00:07:01.211 --> 00:07:03.130 Fill everything in the plan. 00:07:03.130 --> 00:07:16.351 Plan for if you're in online classes, make sure you're planning for the times to focus on those and really kind of pour through that syllabus, and make sure you understand all the ins and outs of that. 00:07:16.351 --> 00:07:32.033 The conversation that I have with students when they're coming in through Camp War Eagle, I kind of put my mom hat on, and they're never going to have this level of resources and opportunities available to them, and we really encourage them: get outside your comfort zone. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:41.711 Go and ask to get involved in research labs and work with faculty and get out into the community and participate. 00:07:41.711 --> 00:07:42.836 Engage. 00:07:42.836 --> 00:07:46.257 Join clubs and organizations. 00:07:46.257 --> 00:07:50.302 But, really take advantage of the opportunities. 00:07:50.302 --> 00:07:55.266 We kind of have the conversation of, “no, this is not -- it's not high school anymore. 00:07:55.266 --> 00:07:57.225 Nobody's going to make you do anything. 00:07:57.225 --> 00:08:11.072 It's up to you now to take advantage of all of these opportunities and participate and really kind of, you've got a short period of time to get as much as you can in a short number of years to get ready for that next step.” 00:08:07.747 --> 00:08:11.072 Yeah. 00:08:11.072 --> 00:08:16.120 I mean, I totally agree, just being a student myself, like, you know, you're only here for four years. 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.956 And so it's like, you know, do all that you can. 00:08:18.956 --> 00:08:21.834 Stay organized. Me and my calendar, man, I would not live without it. 00:08:21.834 --> 00:08:23.336 It is my saving grace. 00:08:23.336 --> 00:08:30.091 But so, we know that you've both worked with students long enough to know the challenges that they often face. 00:08:30.091 --> 00:08:43.063 I know we kind of just talked about that, but kind of what are some of the biggest mistakes that students tend to make during those first few weeks of the semester, and how could they avoid them so it doesn't even happen? 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:45.524 I'll start on this one. 00:08:45.524 --> 00:08:48.110 Go to class. 00:08:45.534 --> 00:08:48.110 True. 00:08:48.110 --> 00:08:56.201 Number one, go to class, turn off the alarm, get up, get yourself to class, and don't sit in the back. 00:08:56.201 --> 00:09:02.332 You know, just be where you are going to be able to participate and engage as much as possible. 00:09:02.332 --> 00:09:03.125 Take notes. 00:09:03.125 --> 00:09:04.961 Review your notes after every class. 00:09:04.961 -->

00:09:07.922 Don't procrastinate on things. 00:09:04.971 --> 00:09:07.922 Yes. 00:09:08.297 --> 00:09:13.510 If students that are in online classes, you have to be able to manage your time appropriately. 00:09:13.510 --> 00:09:18.349 So don't wait until the last of the window of the test proctoring time. 00:09:18.349 --> 00:09:31.571 You know, try to be as proactive as possible in that process and seek out and make -- form relationships with people in classes, with your instructors. 00:09:31.571 --> 00:09:34.948 And, you know, be present for that. 00:09:34.948 --> 00:09:36.616 Yeah, 100%. 00:09:36.616 --> 00:09:37.909 Ditto on that. 00:09:37.909 --> 00:09:42.873 I would also say, just don't wait to ask for help. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:42.873 Yes. 00:09:42.873 --> 00:09:48.169 I feel like I've been in advising a while and a big thing is students are like, “Well, I didn't know. I didn't want to. 00:09:48.169 --> 00:09:56.177 I didn't want it to be a stupid question, or I felt like I was the only one with this problem.” Trust me, you were not, like you were not. 00:09:56.177 --> 00:10:01.433 So, to add on to Robin, I would definitely say is just don't wait. 00:10:01.433 --> 00:10:04.102 If you have a question or a concern, ask. 00:10:04.102 --> 00:10:11.902 Any question or issue, nine times out of ten can always be fixed, usually just a little bit easier and faster at the beginning. 00:10:11.902 --> 00:10:13.863 There's just usually more options at the beginning. 00:10:13.863 --> 00:10:15.655 So I always tell students, “Please. 00:10:15.655 --> 00:10:18.241 You’re transitioning, especially your first semester. 00:10:18.241 --> 00:10:21.620 You're transitioning so much with new roommates, right? 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:24.749 You may not be with your mom or dad, your guardian, whoever you lived with, right? 00:10:24.749 --> 00:10:26.917 Your alarm clock may legit be your alarm clock. 00:10:26.917 --> 00:10:36.302 Not somebody who's like, ‘hey, get up.’ You know, your eating schedule, your social schedule, your friends.” I mean, you know, so much is going on. 00:10:36.302 --> 00:10:40.139 So I always encourage students to just please reach out. 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:41.222 Don't wait. 00:10:41.222 --> 00:10:51.775 Because, a lot of times students see that social media life of like, “oh my gosh, it's perfect and I should be like, exactly like everybody else, like I need -- they're doing fine. 00:10:51.775 --> 00:10:56.572 Why am I not doing fine?” I'm like, social media is just sometimes the glamor of it, you know? 00:10:56.572 --> 00:10:57.740 It's not the real story. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:01.534 So trust me, if you're having issues, nine times out of ten so are other people. 00:11:01.576 --> 00:11:28.895 Yeah, I think the students that wait to get connected with resources on campus, which we really try to talk to our students about, sending the message that our most successful students are the ones that are reaching out and going and going to the Miller Writing Center and going through the Office of Academic Support and using the academic coaches and tutors and everything that's available to them. 00:11:28.895 --> 00:11:34.235 The ones that, you know -- you had to be a pretty good student to get into Auburn, right? 00:11:32.701 --> 00:11:34.235 Right. 00:11:34.235 --> 00:11:41.533 But a lot of students were able to get through high school as an A and B student with ever, never having to learn how to study. 00:11:42.033 --> 00:11:42.243 Right. 00:11:42.243 --> 00:11:45.913 And those are the students that I say I have the most concerns about. 00:11:45.913 --> 00:11:55.548 So they've got to start week one, making those connections through Academic Support and having kind of that accountability of staying on track with resources. 00:11:55.589 --> 00:11:56.298 Yeah. That's great. 00:11:56.298 --> 00:12:04.849 I know, I mean, we've, you know, all in Camp War Eagle, we'll tell our students all the time, like, you know, you have to learn to advocate for yourself, you know, like it's your college now. Yep. 00:12:04.849 --> 00:12:06.892 We're not mind readers. 00:12:06.892 --> 00:12:08.852 You got to tell us what you need. Okay. 00:12:08.852 --> 00:12:17.193 So kind of going off of that, I think like a lot of students think of academic advising as something that they only need during registration. 00:12:17.193 --> 00:12:27.413 So, how can students really maximize their relationship with their academic advisor throughout the year, not just during registration or when they need classes? 00:12:28.371 --> 00:12:32.460 Yeah, so we require mandatory advising. 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:36.212 And every time I say that, I feel like it sounds harsh, but I promise it is a good thing. 00:12:36.212 --> 00:12:44.679 We ask that students meet with us at least one time in the fall and one time in the spring for 30 minutes, but we want students to feel free to come meet with us any time. 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:52.145 Any time that they feel like they have questions, come in, come chat with us, schedule an appointment, whatever it may be, email us, reach out. 00:12:52.145 --> 00:12:59.153 But essentially during these appointments, we just want you to be as open and honest as possible about what are your career goals? 00:12:59.153 --> 00:13:00.528 What are your aspirations? 00:13:00.528 --> 00:13:02.947 What do you really see yourself doing? 00:13:02.947 --> 00:13:04.365 What issues are you having? 00:13:04.365 --> 00:13:08.162 What resources may we need to use that you may just not know? 00:13:08.162 --> 00:13:10.163 Trust me, there's a resource for everything. 00:13:10.163 --> 00:13:15.293 But you know, being honest I think is -- sometimes we joke about the doctor office effect. 00:13:15.293 --> 00:13:21.801 Sometimes, they come in for advising and they're just like, “I'm good, everything's great.” And I'm like, “is it?” 00:13:17.347 --> 00:13:25.513 It's not about just coming in to get your classes for the next

semester. 00:13:25.513 --> 00:13:26.931 It is not. 00:13:26.931 --> 00:13:30.183 You've got to have that ongoing conversation. 00:13:30.183 --> 00:13:33.437 We tell students your advisor is your compass. 00:13:33.437 --> 00:13:39.567 We're here to point you in the right direction, but we've got to kind of know what your interests are and what your goals are. 00:13:39.567 --> 00:13:57.961 We have electives within kinesiology that we could, if we know kind of what your interests are, we might push you toward one elective over another one, because it might give you some additional certification options or, you know, the ability to to get connected with student employment while they're in school. 00:13:57.961 --> 00:14:08.556 So, having those conversations are really important and it should be a team-approach: that advising, student-advisor relationship. 00:14:08.556 --> 00:14:12.976 And then in kinesiology, we have a daily drop in Zoom for students. 00:14:12.976 --> 00:14:23.445 So, any questions they have outside their regular advising appointments, we want them to join Zoom and talk to us, and we can help them kind of solve those problems quickly. 00:14:23.445 --> 00:14:23.653 Yeah. 00:14:23.653 --> 00:14:24.071 That's great. 00:14:24.071 --> 00:14:27.783 I mean, that just kind of goes back to what y'all were saying earlier is, you know, connections. 00:14:27.783 --> 00:14:30.744 You have to, you know, you have to advocate for yourself. 00:14:30.744 --> 00:14:34.831 You have to tell people what you need and get to know people so they can help you. 00:14:34.831 --> 00:14:36.917 And we also kind of talked about resources. 00:14:36.917 --> 00:14:37.668 We touched on that. 00:14:37.668 --> 00:14:48.971 So I know that there are so many resources available on campus, but students don't always know how they can get them or you know about them really until they need those resources. 00:14:48.971 --> 00:14:54.268 So, what are some of the resources that you think every College of Education student should know about? 00:14:55.561 --> 00:14:58.313 Office of Academic Support, number one. 00:14:55.571 --> 00:14:58.313 Ok. 00:14:58.313 --> 00:15:00.691 They have academic coaches. 00:15:00.691 --> 00:15:02.150 They have tutors. 00:15:02.150 --> 00:15:08.072 They have supplemental instruction or SIs as students will refer to them. 00:15:08.072 --> 00:15:13.245 And if your class offers SI, there's a reason for it and you should participate. 00:15:13.245 --> 00:15:27.801 And then they have a new accountability groups for students that are focused on certain courses and just kind of need that extra support and helping, you know, stay accountable and helping others stay accountable on their study. 00:15:27.801 --> 00:15:30.011 But using those resources. 00:15:30.011 --> 00:15:37.894 Miller Writing Center, Veterans Resource Center, if it's someone under veterans benefits. 00:15:39.312 --> 00:15:40.980 Yeah, I mean, there's just so many. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.856 The list goes on. 00:15:41.856 --> 00:15:44.067 The counseling services. Amazing. 00:15:44.067 --> 00:15:50.698 We have a career strategist that's housed in both of our buildings, and she is a huge asset. 00:15:50.698 --> 00:16:04.296 So, thinking about students who are really unsure about their career pathway, you know, and not understanding what all they can do with their career, you know, sometimes people think, “Oh, I'm going to teach education, like I'm going to be a teacher.” And that's wonderful. 00:16:04.296 --> 00:16:05.505 And we hope that that's what you do. 00:16:05.505 --> 00:16:10.219 But we also want you to have ownership of like, hey, there's other things you can also do with that degree. 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:19.477 Let's say you try teaching for a while and then you're like, “I want to explore something else.” You know, your degree can open up so many doors and any facet, even rehab, disability studies. 00:16:19.477 --> 00:16:34.326 Maybe you wanted to be an OT and then decided, “Maybe I want to do something else in the health field.” So, meeting with our career strategist, she can really open those conversations, but also assist with resumes and cover letters and, you know, all that kind of stuff as well. 00:16:34.368 --> 00:16:42.668 And I think on both sides of the College, we all have programing that we put in place for students, and we're not just coming up with fun things to do. 00:16:42.668 --> 00:16:46.879 We're planning these events because students need to develop these skills. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:57.682 So, we're doing workshops to help students write and revise their resume, work on their personal statements, cover letters, interviewing skills. 00:16:57.682 --> 00:17:01.854 We do mock interviews, so students can come through and practice doing interviews. 00:17:01.854 --> 00:17:11.821 You don't want to have your freeze moment when you're in that interview, so come and have a safe space to practice and participating in student organizations. 00:17:11.821 --> 00:17:12.905 That's a resource. 00:17:12.905 --> 00:17:15.034 You're going to make connections. 00:17:15.034 --> 00:17:17.536 We have a physical therapy occupational therapy club. 00:17:17.536 --> 00:17:30.798 We have representatives from PT and OT schools that students are commonly applying to coming to those meetings and talking to students about the application process and what it takes to be a competitive applicant. 00:17:30.798 --> 00:17:32.718 You can't just go into these things blind. 00:17:32.718 --> 00:17:38.723 So, as much information as you can gather through these resources -- that's what you need to be doing. 00:17:38.723 --> 00:17:39.641 Yeah. That's great. 00:17:39.641 --> 00:17:43.103 I think, you know, just really bring attention to all these resources. 00:17:43.103 --> 00:17:46.397 And, you know, because they're here to help students, they're here for the students. 00:17:46.397 --> 00:17:50.861 But it's hard when students, you know, don't

know what they are or how to access them. 00:17:50.861 --> 00:17:52.863 So that's so, so, so important. 00:17:52.863 --> 00:17:58.993 So, kind of going off of, you know, being involved in all that -- many Auburn students are balancing a lot of things. 00:17:58.993 --> 00:18:05.459 They're balancing classes, jobs, internships, different student organizations like we talked about, family responsibilities. 00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:14.134 So, what advice would you give students for maintaining the balance while still succeeding academically? 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.676 Planning. 00:18:15.676 --> 00:18:17.261 Using that planner. 00:18:17.261 --> 00:18:19.138 I always go back to use that planner. 00:18:19.138 --> 00:18:22.433 Create a balance in your planner and live in that balance. 00:18:22.433 --> 00:18:22.851 Yeah. 00:18:22.851 --> 00:18:30.442 And you know, it's not just focusing on academics and work and all that. 00:18:30.442 --> 00:18:32.152 Plan for the fun things. 00:18:32.152 --> 00:18:35.321 Plan to eat well, plan to sleep enough. 00:18:35.321 --> 00:18:40.201 You know, if you're not getting enough sleep, you're not going to be able to be successful while you're here. 00:18:40.201 --> 00:18:43.872 So planning for for everything. 00:18:40.201 --> 00:18:43.872 Yeah. Yeah. 00:18:43.872 --> 00:18:47.917 I would also say and I mentioned this earlier, but be honest. 00:18:47.917 --> 00:18:51.296 Be open and honest with your faculty or instructors, Your advisors. 00:18:51.296 --> 00:18:52.713 Let them know how you're doing. 00:18:52.713 --> 00:19:01.140 You know, sometimes students will kind of like drop little hints about something and I pick up on it and they're just like, “oh, I'm so glad. 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:09.690 Because, like, I was just needing to kind of let that out, but I didn't know how to let that out.” And so as honest as possible that I can best help you, but just take care of yourself. 00:19:09.690 --> 00:19:16.320 I think that's the number one -- Students, again, they're dealing with so much transition and so many different things and academics. 00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:18.824 And I'm like, “Are you focusing on yourself? 00:19:18.824 --> 00:19:21.993 Like, are you okay?” You know, yes, I'm an advisor. 00:19:21.993 --> 00:19:23.703 I've been an advisor since 2012. 00:19:23.703 --> 00:19:27.875 Academics are important but your health is really most important. 00:19:27.875 --> 00:19:30.669 If you're not here, then you're not gonna be able to academically do well. 00:19:30.669 --> 00:19:31.670 So, let's step back. 00:19:31.670 --> 00:19:41.137 I think those appointments are the ones that I kind of appreciate and enjoy the most, is the ones where the students are coming in, and you can just tell they are at their breaking point. 00:19:41.137 --> 00:19:46.852 They don't know what to do next, and you can just kind of talk them through and open other doors. 00:19:46.852 --> 00:19:58.321 And it's just you can see the stress and the tension just kind of leave their shoulders and you know, when they can kind of leave your appointment feeling better than they were when they came in. 00:19:58.321 --> 00:20:00.073 That's a good day. 00:19:58.332 --> 00:20:00.073 Yeah. 00:20:00.073 --> 00:20:04.076 That kind of just goes back to, you know, talking about academic advising in general. 00:20:04.076 --> 00:20:12.586 And y'all, as advisors want students to be successful in every aspect, not just academics, but like as their whole person. 00:20:12.586 --> 00:20:18.424 So I know that you've worked with hundreds, probably thousands of students throughout your career. 00:20:18.424 --> 00:20:28.393 Can you each share a memorable student success story that reminds you of why academic advising is such an important part of the college experience? 00:20:29.060 --> 00:20:31.563 There's so many. 00:20:29.070 --> 00:20:31.563 I'm sure. 00:20:31.563 --> 00:20:32.772 It's tricky. 00:20:32.772 --> 00:20:41.530 I would say probably, yeah, there's a -- I would say probably my most memorable would be: I had a student who was a first-gen. 00:20:41.530 --> 00:20:47.453 So, first-generation, you know, it was basically you don't have anybody else in your family who's come to college in the immediate family. 00:20:47.453 --> 00:20:55.921 So, she was a first-gen student and just not really sure what she wanted to do, how she wanted to do it. 00:20:55.921 --> 00:21:00.259 She, you know, there was a lot of mental health things that she was battling as well. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:04.887 But we just met as much as she wanted any time as multiple times. 00:21:04.887 --> 00:21:07.432 And, she ended up graduating with honors. 00:21:07.432 --> 00:21:25.409 And I just remember like that email of like, “I did it” and, you know, you just like are tearing up because you, you feel like, “aww,” you know, but it was very inspiring seeing somebody who had a lot, had a lot kind of going against her. 00:21:25.409 --> 00:21:33.625 And she just prevailed and pushed through and used her resources and actually like, you know, came and chatted even though we had nothing to chat about. 00:21:33.625 --> 00:21:34.584 She just came and talked. 00:21:34.584 --> 00:21:37.712 And I think just that would probably the most, most memorable. 00:21:37.712 --> 00:21:40.507 It was a very, very proud moment. 00:21:37.712 --> 00:21:40.507 That's so sweet. 00:21:40.507 --> 00:21:40.507 Yeah. 00:21:43.343 --> 00:21:47.722 I actually just had a former student come back and visit me the other day, and I love reconnecting with them. 00:21:47.722 --> 00:22:07.784 And this student came from a background where they was struggle, for sure, and had one goal in mind, you know, as far as getting the degree and wanting to participate in certain things on campus. 00:22:07.784 --> 00:22:17.586 But, there were so many other outside things that were pulling at this student that it took a little bit of redirection and it was a struggle. 00:22:17.586 -->

00:22:20.047 But, they got through it. 00:22:20.047 --> 00:22:29.096 And, now this person is speaking internationally and just winning awards. 00:22:29.096 --> 00:22:37.021 And it's just -- it's phenomenal to to see the path that that they've taken, just I love that reconnection. 00:22:37.064 --> 00:22:44.988 Yeah, that's awesome. Well, kind of going off of that, y'all as advisors have watched students grow from freshmen into graduates, you know, and they might even come back and visit. 00:22:44.988 --> 00:22:50.993 So, are there certain qualities that you consistently see in those who are most successful? 00:22:52.412 --> 00:23:11.138 You have to have a level of grit just to be able to kind of take some criticism or -- we expect students to fail and make mistakes, but being able to fail forward is a big piece and we learn. 00:23:11.138 --> 00:23:14.267 I think, sometimes, we learn more from our mistakes. 00:23:14.267 --> 00:23:24.528 So, being able to kind of have that dedication and perseverance and being able to kind of work through whatever comes and roll with it. 00:23:24.528 --> 00:23:25.444 Yeah, yeah. 00:23:25.444 --> 00:23:27.114 I would say, initiative. 00:23:27.114 --> 00:23:28.073 Self-advocating. 00:23:28.073 --> 00:23:30.282 Again, you're going to fail and that's okay. 00:23:30.282 --> 00:23:34.246 But, how did you, how did you, what happened next after you fell? 00:23:34.246 --> 00:23:35.872 Did you get back up? Did you grow from it? 00:23:35.872 --> 00:23:39.000 Did you learn from it? So, I feel like that no one's perfect. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:43.922 So, just as long as you understand you're not perfect and there's going to be challenges and being open. 00:23:43.922 --> 00:23:46.465 Being open to other pathways. 00:23:43.932 --> 00:23:46.465 Exactly. 00:23:43.922 --> 00:23:46.465 Yeah. 00:23:46.465 --> 00:23:52.055 You might be able to still get to the same goal, but it might be a little bit different route to get there. 00:23:52.055 --> 00:23:54.641 Yeah. That's so, so, so, important. 00:23:52.065 --> 00:23:54.641 Okay. 00:23:54.641 --> 00:23:57.560 So this has been such an informative conversation. 00:23:57.560 --> 00:24:03.232 Starting a new semester is always filled with excitement, opportunity and maybe a few nerves. 00:24:03.232 --> 00:24:10.156 I know I experience that, but today's discussion is a great reminder that no student has to navigate that journey alone. 00:24:10.156 --> 00:24:13.410 So, before we close, I'd love to ask one final question. 00:24:13.410 --> 00:24:21.250 So, if you could leave every College of Education student with one sentence of encouragement for the semester ahead, what would it be? 00:24:22.836 --> 00:24:28.383 I would say, and I feel like we've said this before, but no journey is the same. 00:24:28.383 --> 00:24:36.432 Do not come in expecting a cookie cutter exactly like my sister, my brother, or my cousin, or my mom. 00:24:36.432 --> 00:24:39.894 You know, the biggest thing always tell students is this is your journey, not mine. 00:24:39.894 --> 00:24:41.438 I had my journey, right? 00:24:41.438 --> 00:24:43.147 It was great. I learned things. 00:24:43.147 --> 00:24:44.773 This is your journey. 00:24:44.773 --> 00:24:48.569 Not your mom's, not your dad's, not your brother’s, your sister, aunt, uncles - yours. 00:24:48.569 --> 00:24:56.327 And so, make the most of it, but also take ownership of it and and know it's not going to be exactly maybe how you envisioned it, but it may be better. 00:24:56.327 --> 00:24:59.873 And I think that's sometimes, like you mentioned earlier, they expect this journey. 00:24:59.873 --> 00:25:05.045 And it's like, but there may be a better route that you just haven't realized or envisioned yet. 00:25:05.045 --> 00:25:09.840 And I think that's a huge part of our job is to show the big picture. 00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:11.800 You know, we don't talk about just classes. 00:25:11.800 --> 00:25:18.182 We talk about all the different avenues to get you to your final degree in your final career. 00:25:18.182 --> 00:25:18.182 So I would just say your journey. 00:25:18.182 --> 00:25:21.560 Yeah, I think for me it's be open to possibilities. 00:25:21.560 --> 00:25:23.355 Don't give up. 00:25:23.355 --> 00:25:24.522 Y eah. That's great. 00:25:24.522 --> 00:25:25.981 Like so great. 00:25:25.981 --> 00:25:34.449 Well, thank you both so much for joining us today, and for everything that you do to help our students succeed, not just academically but personally, professionally. 00:25:34.449 --> 00:25:36.826 It's great and we really, really appreciate y'all. 00:25:36.826 --> 00:25:39.828 Thank you to everyone for listening to Auburn Ed Talks. 00:25:39.828 --> 00:25:44.917 Be sure to subscribe for more conversations to elevate, empower and celebrate the world of education. 00:25:45.669 --> 00:25:47.045 War Eagle! War Eagle!