When it comes to seeking out professional and personal development opportunities, I am like a frantic squirrel hunting for nuts. There is so much I want to learn and so many skills I want to add to my repertoire. I attend workshops, watch seminars, host a weekly trivia game at a local bar, I’ve collected a bowl of alphabet soup with all the acronym named conferences I’ve been to, and so much more. Engaging with these opportunities has –
Hold up. Hosting trivia at a local bar? Isn’t this an article about professional development and Residence Life?
You better believe it. I’ll even go a step further and say that becoming a trivia host has been one of the most impactful professional development opportunities I’ve had when it comes to developing my skills as a Res Life professional. Every week when I host trivia, I have to hop onto a microphone and speak to a crammed bar full of over 100 people. I need to project my voice to ensure that everyone hears me. I engage with my patrons to help elevate their experiences. I temper frustrations with folks who challenge the answers. I continually look at the clock and adapt my speed to make sure we are making the time that we need to. I fix spontaneous tech issues. Communication, time management, conflict resolution, public speaking, in the moment problem solving – these are all skills paramount to any Res Life role. I didn’t seek out being a trivia host to focus on my professional development, but it has become a way for me to refine these skills every week in a world away from a traditional professional development opportunity.
That’s the mentality I now approach my professional development outlook with – what brings me joy in life and how can I learn and develop from that in all aspects of my life? There is merit in the traditional pro devo opportunities (national / regional conferences, university-based workshops, the likes) and I still engage with those avenues. But, I also consistently challenge myself to think broadly and outside the box. As I find opportunities that fill my cup just as a person for self-satisfaction, can I find professional development in those opportunities as well?
As we all slip into the summer months and begin to ponder how we are going to use our time, particularly when it comes to professional development, can you adapt this approach? Are there ways you can embrace professional development outside of the usual suspects? What are those things outside of work that give you passion that can also hone your skills in your professional life? Here are some unconventional avenues to consider for your professional development.
Take on an Entertainment Gig
Like I mentioned above, hosting trivia has helped sharpen so many of my Res Life skills. By being a Res Life pro, you are already an entertainer. You are consistently working rooms, entertaining people, being a hype person. Think about the things that bring you joy outside of work that align with entertainment. If you are a music person, can you apply for a DJ spot on your college’s radio station? That’s a lot of communication and precision required. If literature is your thing, can you join or host a book club? I see an opportunity for practice in critical thinking and consolidating information. Find what entertains you and see if you can contribute to that field in your own way!
Teach a Class (Outside of Student Affairs)
Many institutions provide the opportunity to teach an RA class or workshop. I would challenge you to take that a step further and see if you can teach a class in a field away from Res Life or Student Affairs. I’ve taught first-year seminar type courses and a course in mindfulness. I learn so much in my classes, both in the material (I am a huge believer that every Res Life staff member should take a course in mindfulness, the tools are invaluable) and how to deliver information to students in an academic setting. There could be opportunities beyond teaching college students, too – I have peers who teach workout classes, and peers who teach classes to older individuals in the community on subjects such as museums and soccer through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). OLLI has a presence on many college campuses, your institution may be involved with them, too. Teaching is a wholly different skill from supervising, and it can help you re-energize your approach to working with students.
Write for Fun
When I started working in Res Life, I was a little surprised to see how much I actually write on a daily basis. In the Res Life field, our writings typically either fall into reporting or assessment. Both are highly unique types of writing that require certain nuance. Developing your writing skills requires practice and determination, but it isn’t something you often find yourself doing much outside of a work setting. I’ve found that flexing my writing muscles outside of work can be really beneficial. In addition to hosting trivia, I occasionally write trivia questions. It’s a writing format that calls for subtle context, careful construction, a bit of world play, and brevity – all things you may find in an assessment report. As a movie fanatic, I’ve written a few scripts to submit to competitions. Writing narrative fiction requires world building, strong attention to detail, proper exposition – all skills that writing an incident report would require. I recently started this Roompact blog writing position to be able to untangle my Res Life experiences and share them with others! Are there certain things you feel drawn to that you can write about, perhaps for a blog? Maybe you can take a stab at writing poetry or a short story. Even writing a letter to a family member or friend can fit!
For me, these are things that I am doing that I would have sought out anyways, just with the interests I have. By taking it a step further, I can match the skills I am gaining from these experiences to my work. This outlook helps me approach professional development in a different way that feels uniquely tailored to me, and continually helps with that harmony of balancing my career and life outside of work. Not everything you do needs to be drawn back to work, of course, but if the connection is there, I say take it.
Professional development is a beautiful thing that can do wonders for us. It can be easy to limit our view of what professional development is, but I hope the above points help you rethink it a little bit and what might work for you. Think big, think unique, and think you!
