When Will They Be Back?

Post by Hanna Debruhl, Career Coach at Columbia College

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Summer, my favorite season is here.  I love the beach, creating a new summer playlist, and the freedom summer brings.  However, what I don’t love about summer is not having students on campus.  I live and breathe students during the semesters. As someone who has worked on a college campus only 2 years, I wonder if other newer professionals feel this way as well?   It can be a transition- becoming accustomed to having students meet with you on a daily basis and then seeing none of them after May.   It is almost like a withdrawal not having them there. What am I supposed to do again? There are no resumes to critique or student meetings to attend.

I know it sounds odd; there is so much I can do. I can plan career events for the semester, attend professional development meetings, read a book, and eat my lunch in peace.  It sounds great, but for me the best part of my job is meeting with my students.  Whether I am assisting them with a resume, helping them with a job search, or helping them in exploring their major, I love it all.  I enjoy meeting and getting to know them. They all bring a different perspective and energy.  It is fun watching them grow each year and see where life is taking them. Students give us so much that they don’t realize. My students give purpose and make the job fun.  I want to be the best career coach I can be for them, they expect a lot from us. We are a vital link to a variety of resources.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies.   Students will sometimes “just forget” about an appointment or cancel at the last minute, or not know what an elevator pitch is.  It’s all worth it though, when I connect with that one student who finally chose a major or received an internship.  That makes all the difference in the world. There are good and bad days as we all experience, but for the most part, I am glad to work every day with students.

If you are currently feeling like I do, here are a few things you can do to combat the “no student blues”.

  • Keep in contact with students via email and social media highlighting availability help throughout summer. Many are surprised by this fact!
  • Continue sharing posts, blogs, or articles to your social media that students can see.
  • Participate in new student orientation or summer camps that your campus provides to introduce yourself and your department. This will help establish a relationship before students arrive on campus.
  • Reach out to recent alums to see how they are and just “check in”, they will appreciate this.
  • Always assist with move in day on campus to meet new students and parents. This helps show campus spirit and lets students know you care.

The months between May and August sometimes seem to drag on, but then just as quickly, we look up and it’s July already. Where did the time go?   Am I ready for students to come back? Is everything planned?  As I anticipate the arrival of students and the excitement that it brings, I hope for a few things.  One, I hope that I never lose this feeling. Two, that my students are just as excited as I am for the new semester.  Three that I always remember the purpose and focus is to help students to succeed.

As the summer comes to an end, what are you doing to prepare for the next school year?

Do you wonder too, when will they be back? Let’s talk about it!


Hanna DeBruhlHanna DeBruhl has been in the career development field for almost 10 years. She is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and currently serves as a career coach at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina.  Hanna prepares students for the workforce through one-on-one coaching, classroom presentations, and on-campus workshops on various career topics.  Previously, Hanna worked as a career specialist on the secondary level, teaching career exploration courses, and connecting with community speakers to educate students on various career fields and job opportunities. Connect with Hanna on Twitter @HannaDeBruhl | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pub/hanna-debruhl/29/468/3b6 | Personal Blog  http://hannadebruhl125.com/

 


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