Signs You Work at A College

Working at a College helps to keep you on your toes. There are a few signs that you should look out for that can help you identify others that work in Student Life at College. 

10. Their summer ends July 4 as you start preparing every minute for students to move back to campus. Your last hurrah is that celebration of America. I like to think the fireworks are for me, just welcoming me into a new academic year. 

9. They always go over their cell phone minutes in August, December/January and May but never come close any other month. This is mostly due to move in, the semester closing, and Commencement. The other months they are in their office with a phone ringing off the hook, so not as many calls come to the cell. 

8. They stopped doing shots and drinking 40s long ago after seeing what it does to college students. This one still shocks my brother, along with the next one.

7. They make all of their family members consume safely and at weddings their family and friends call them the fun police too. This happened to me recently at my brother's wedding. I think I have developed an unhealthy level of concern for others when alcohol consumption is on the horizon. But really- when you have seen as much vomit, hospital transports, and overall bad decision making while alcohol was concerned you develop these fears that it will happen to someone you love. It is just part of me now, no use fighting it or making fun. 

6. They are brave! Their job almost requires that they have no stage fright. You often have to be the first one to sing karaoke to get the crowd ready, or you have to be brave and start the open mic night if students are slow to feel comfortable. You have to think on your feet so people can either emulate or laugh at you (whichever is appropriate for the moment). 

5. They have family that thinks they are still in school. It is hard to explain some of the student life careers to your parents and grandparents. My great Aunt still asks me how classes are going and I always answer sweetly. She must think I have changed my major twenty times, since according to her I have been in college since 2000. 

4. They can come up with ten transferable skills for every task they ask a student or student group to perform. We just have to be ready with those things.

3. Their wardrobe consists of clothes from the bookstore, training events, conferences, student fundraisers, tournaments, or the sports team booster. They might have them sorted into what looks good with khakis, jeans or when you really have to dress things up with some slacks.

2. They have dual memberships on facebook, twitter, pinterest, tumblr, etc. One for personal use and one for the College. Often they forget which one they are logged into and post some weird stuff to their personal accounts. 

And the number one sign that someone works in Student Life at a College is that they start a blog to talk about it! The posts focus on things that might help students but they try to be anonymous so that the students do not find out it is them and tease!