You Made It Through Training... Now What?

Alright, we made it! All the student leaders have been trained, you've done hundreds of icebreakers, and you're exhausted. But you have survived August training. Now it's time to kick back and relax... WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE HAVE TO START THE SEMESTER?!

It can be tough to bounce back from such a lengthy August training season. You've just given your all to ensure that your student leaders are equipped for the semester, and it can be hard to realize that you have to eventually... work the semester. However, with some key tips and tricks, you can put yourself in a good place to, if not start the semester fully recovered, at least be able to show up and show out for your students who are coming back for the semester while protecting yourself and your needs.

Tip #1: You need basic things to function.

I know this seems like either a no-brainer to some people or an insurmountable mountain to others, but it truly is neither. While I would love to say that you won’t have to consider food or sleep in your planning because they are automatically planned for, sometimes this is not the case. Deadlines and other major projects can seem more important than basic human needs. However, this is not sustainable. Be sure to take care of each of your basic needs: food, drink, sleep, and socializing. It can be tempting to forego some of these for the sake of getting more done, but resting and taking care of yourself not only allows you to be more present but also acts as a form of resistance against your very important work taking over your equally-if-not-more important personal time.

Tip #2: Find an off-campus confidant.

During my summer internship in my grad program, one of the best pieces of advice I received from my supervisor was to make sure that there is someone off-campus you can turn to during hard times. Whether it is a parent, partner, friend, or an online community—just find someone who does not have a vested interest in the institution!

Tip #3: Recognize that this is a burn point. Try not to make it burnout.

August in higher education sucks. There are no two ways about it. This is the schedule that we all likely knew we were getting ourselves into when we decided to pursue a field in Student Affairs. It can be very easy to recognize that this is a stressful time, or a “burn point”—a flash point where things really heat up. However, the goal is to ensure that it is not the start of a long-term trend. Realize that things are bad now, but have a plan for making things better in the long term.

About the Author

Kirwin joined the Residence Life team at Hofstra University in January of 2022. A native Brooklynite, Kirwin left the city to obtain his undergraduate degree from Juniata College in Organizational Communication and Conflict Resolution. During his time at Juniata, he was involved in intercultural programming, admissions events, and the Juniata Activity Board. After attending a National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) conference, Kirwin decided that higher ed was the career path for him and went to pursue a master's degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University. At Western Illinois, he served as a graduate assistant in Graduate Student Life and Veterans Resources. Kirwin is excited to continue his journey within student affairs and explore residence life at Hofstra.