As an undergraduate student, I was extremely involved. Over involved. Hyper involved.  I knew (know) about most of the plethora of resources on campus for any issue, and got involved with any major cause I believed was important.  This was what sparked my interest in higher education in the first place.  Starting my fifth year at the university, I realize that I’m having a hard time contributing to new causes, and discovering some that I care about as much as the ones that I’m already engaged in.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love everything that I do now – from serving as a Hokie Ambassador, to writing for the school newspaper about higher education, to working in the Event Planning office and helping students see their events actualize. Also, continuing engagement in the Actively Caring movement, and spreading it into multiple schools locally, and spreading the message individually nationally.

I’ve ceased most direct involvement in numerous things, like the SGA, Yates Project, YMCA, SAASS, Big Event, etc.  I’ve been trying to focus on things that will also help me develop professionally, not just get me that involvement and commitment to service I sought as undergraduate. I’m trying to be a little more intentional than that now.

For one of my classes, it’s an activity for us to revise our resume to focus on the professional experiences that we are having as graduate students.  Let me tell you, this is an activity I welcomed – to be able to scale back on my over-loaded resume, full of events activities from my undergraduate career.  But I still feel a need to get even more involved.

Later, at the request of a stranger earlier today, I’m going to pen a blog about my day to day life. You’ll see that I literally have no extra time left in the day. But somehow, I still want to be more engaged in my community.  For example, I caught wind of Safe Zone trainings – events that are put together to educate our community about the issues that face lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual/gendered, queer, pansexual, etc. students.  This was a certification that I would appreciate having, would benefit me developmentally, and also would be a nice credential to have as I plan to work with diversity issues someday.

But I really can’t decide where to go from here. A professor, when I posited them the same question last week, reccomended that I go from being the student that is committing, to the professional that is organizing commitment.  I certianly plan on doing that to an extent, but I plan to always be that person that is committed.  Obviously, in about a year and a half my time as a student at any level will have maxed out.

As a graduate student and professional, I’ve loved having the opportunities to help other students get engaged. And I’ve kind of started to realize that that is where I have passion developing – just as a friend suggested to me on Facebook tonight.  After all, that’s the definition of living Ut Prosim as a way of life. I remember being so blessed and honored to win that Aspirations! Award last semester. :) Maybe I should get involved with a committee to help further the recognition of others…

Can’t wait to see where this journey takes me. :)