Tuesday May 26th- Wednesday May 27th

So Tuesday was the beginning of the work week due to Memorial Day on Monday. It was a packed overwhelming start of the week though. I met with Tierza in the morning to work on the Leadership In Action Curriculum and that was the beginning of my meetings for the day. I then next met with Bradley Wilson (Student Media Coordinator). He told me about he was originally a corporate worker and then how he transferred in at the University and is now in higher education being the coordinator of a million dollar student organization. In their media center they have a 24-hour radio broadcast (they bring in a live band every Friday), a daily student ran paper, a weekly African American paper, yearbook staff, and a journal book. This office is made up of about 120 students throughout the school year. I next met with Eileen Marin (Assistant Director for Student Government Advising). She had informed me how her office position had just been made about a year ago and the challenges she had faced during her first year in the position and how she thought this upcoming year was going to go. Before coming to NCSU she had been Greek Life staff at Virginia Tech. Therefore, she told be about the difficulty that VT went through after the shootings and how it affected the campus as well as herself. In the afternoon I met with Lisa LaBarbera (Associate Director for East Campus Housing). I really enjoyed this interview session. I learned about how much of a hierarchy there is to a big campus when it comes to Residential Life and Housing. She took me around the entire campus and showed me the differences amongst their dorms. I also learned about Associate Directors, RD's and then RA's. She also talked to me about graduate programs and how the best way to get a free graduate education is to go for a graduate residential assistant ship (pay for school, housing, food, and usually money as well). She was a fun lady to meet and also gave me some good ideas as to what to do while I am out here. The rest of the work day I worked on the Leadership In Action Curriculum. Then I finally I was able to go the big Gym on campus... so they have pretty much everything here... a rock wall, fencing, about 6 basketball courts, 2 pools, racket ball courts, indoor track, about 6 different weight rooms, lots of machines to work out on, archery, work out classes, and so yeah pretty much everything! I really am hoping to try archery!

So Today (Wednesday) I was basically in meetings all day long... which were interesting. The University of Kentucky was visiting because they have been doing lots of research about Student Centers and thought/were really impressed with NCSU and especially the CSLEPS office. Therefore I sat in on the combined meeting between their service office and CSLEPS. I really took away some information about how colleges exchange information and also the University of Kentucky talked about how they do this thing called a Leadership Summit in the fall. Basically they bring in all their student officers of organizations and it is a Friday Saturday retreat kind of thing where they have their leaders bring forth issues that they are wanting to address and focus on for the year and more into the future. After we got done with this meeting I finally had my formal meeting with Adam Cully (CSLEPS Assistant Director). Adam told me of his career path and how really his main focus is to impact and empower students/influence their lives (hmmm sounded awfully familiar to what I want to do). Within the office though Adam works with Alternative Break Trips, Leadership education and the Service-Leadership Consultants. More so though Adam is just a fun guy that had many great ideas and keeps lots of energy in the office at all times... not that there is not a lot of energy in there already! Then in the afternoon I had my final meeting for the day. I went to a Student Affairs Programmers Meeting with Tierza. Here I got a look at how the different student affairs offices try to collaborate and work together when planning events so that no single dates get overbooked as well as collaboration to work even more closely together now that the state budget is really getting tight. It was a little boring but I got something out of it though. So far though this week has been packed but insightful... I only wonder how I am supposed to get the curriculum revised when it seems that all I am ever doing is talking and meeting with people????? Eventually it will happen I guess!