T2 and Tulane

So one thing that's certainly exciting about this time of year is the programs that are developing on campus. As an RA, I particularly pay attention to the ones near me, in the residence hall in which I live and nearby. One such program is called T2.

This program began this year as an effort to involve sophomore students with more leadership opportunities, such as the chance to find an internship, work for someone whose career interests them, or even simply find a job that both respects their education and pays well. The Career Services offices have been moved inside Mayer Residence Hall just so the sophomores have immediate access to career coaches, help with their resume, and constant advice on public service and internships and how to best access them.

The illustrious Mayer Residence Hall with its Career Services addition is pictured above!

At first, I'll admit I thought the program was not going to be successful. I thought that while the idea of specifically interactive freshmen halls was a good idea, the enthusiasm might wear off when the students became sophomores. And at first, the resident advisors, many of whom are good friends of mine, did not know what to expect.

But after a few months, this semester, things are really beginning to pick up. I'm the RA in a residence hall called Leadership Village, where juniors and seniors who are student leaders are encouraged to live in our loft-style rooms furnished with spiral staircases and balconies. One of our biggest groups of potential residents for next year is a result of the T2 program-- it is what they call the Leadership Class at T2. I was thoroughly impressed to see that not only had sophomores taken advantage of the opportunities presented by Career Services, but that they had embraced them and taken chances to excel.

According to Robert Hutchins, education is not to reform students or amuse them or to make them expert technicians. It is to unsettle their minds, widen their horizons, inflame their intellects, teach them to think straight, if possible.

It occured to me that at Tulane, these sophomores have gotten to put themselves out there-- in the risky job market, in the competitive world of exclusive internships, and in a group of students all trying to be leaders. This program has managed to take them out of their comfort zones and teach them to fly as high as they can without falling down.

I've never heard of another program like T2 . . . and though I was skeptical at first, I must say I'm now a believer. I think that our students have the capability to accept any challenge and succeed and I'm certainly hoping that these are the kinds of residents I'll have in Leadership Village next year!

Back To School Blunders

So today it's January 17th which means I've been at Tulane exactly four days since Winter Break ended. But my life has already gotten busier than ever.

This week I find myself without a computer. Though my computer has been acting up since the summer, I decided I just couldn't live without it and refused to take it to Tech Services here at Tulane, where I have an impressive four year warranty. Finally, two days ago, during a momentary burst of inspiration, I hauled it to my farthest class and back just to make sure it got to the IT people here at Tulane . . . only to realize today that it contains my grant applications, my roster of residents, my resume, and many other documents I need to turn in, use to get recommendations, and require to start the medical school admissions process. Because of my lack of foresight, now I don't have all the forms for my advisors or my resume to submit. And while trying to solve this set of problems (rewriting my resume and getting more forms), I hardly had any time for the bulletin board, which is the only arts and crafts I really have to do as a junior and unfortunately the activity I look forward to LEAST at the end of my To-Do list.

Luckily for me, I'm not the only student trying to get it right in the busiest semester of her college career. I know that all my advisors have seen many other students who find themselves running around though the semester has just begun, that Tech Services makes allowances for students who don't plan ahead, and that my residents are too busy to notice their bulletin board isn't up just yet.

This is really the time of year to hit the ground running. The second semester junior year is so important for so many decisions, like where you're going to grad school, if you're adding a minor, where you're going to get this thing called "Experience" that almost every graduate program requires, and more. Tulane happens to have amazing advisors-- you get one for every major and I happen to have three, pre-professional and academic advisors who meet with you one-on-one whenever you need it and send you the forms you need even if you lose the first set, and an entire office dedicated to resumes, internships, and getting students the experiences they need for their future careers.

So for those of you still thinking about your college options, do what I didn't do with my laptop issue-- plan for the future. Your life is going to get very busy at the time when you realize that college is only four years long and you have a whole lifetime ahead of that. When you get there, you will want a supportive faculty and staff who are there to guide you every step of the way-- I know I'm pretty grateful for everyone I have at Tulane.


Only at Tulane . . .