Hidden Heroes

With the holidays coming up, I know that I am going to be asked the question “what do you want to do after you graduate?” a million times. It is just how the holidays work. You see people you haven’t seen since last year’s holiday party and are forced to make small talk as you consume bite-sized food and drink cider.

When I answer this never ending questions with “go to grad school to become a student affairs professional”, I am going to be facing a lot of blank stares and responses like “oh cool” because no one is going to understand what that means. Even after trying to explain what the profession is, some people are still going to think that I want to be a professor. Most people just do not know what student affairs is.

But why?

Many people have interacted with student affairs professionals in their lifetime but they probably never realized it. The nature of this profession is very “behind the scenes”. For this reason, student at higher education institutes can benefit greatly from the work of student affairs professionals without ever knowing the words, student affairs. Once they graduate and leave the institute, they may never think twice about who was behind the experiences they had.

Professionals in this field do so much on campuses and create such a big impact without gaining any recognition. The these individuals are not the type of people to crave recognition. Rather, they gain fulfillment by seeing student succeed and grow into their best selves.

However, as a student who has been changed for the better thanks to student affairs professionals, it does sadden me at times that they go without acknowledgement. These individuals are cultivating the future generations that our nation will shaped by. They work so hard and put their whole heart into projects that solely benefit others. This is true for all those doing work in this field, whether it be researchers, public policy advocates, university employees, or staff members of various student affairs associations. Everyone in this field does what they do knowing the greater public may never hear of their groundbreaking work or realize the impact they make. They genuinely care about future generations and making higher education better.

Student affairs professionals truly are the hidden heroes of both higher education and our society. I cannot wait to join this band of heroes, even if it means having to explain myself over and over again at holiday functions.