Summer 2019: In my Element

From the moment I started my internship search process, way before the interviewing stage, I knew there was something about the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) that was calling me. When UTSA actually called me to offer me a position as one of their NODA Interns for the summer, my heart was full. All my preparation, practice and trust with the NODA internship portal paid off and I was ecstatic to be joining the field of orientation once again. I had the privilege of working directly with incoming first-year and transfer students as an undergraduate orientation leader, and I am grateful for the opportunity that UTSA presented me with in serving as the intern for their Family Orientation track.

Orientation/Family Programs holds a special place in my spirit because of the blissful feeling that it brings me as I welcome new students and family members into their new collegiate home. It’s an experience that solidified my decision of pursuing student affairs as a career, and it’s an experience where my passion of service is able to be expressed to the fullest. My arrival to San Antonio / UTSA was smooth. Meeting the team of orientation leaders (OLs) and pro-staff members felt quite rewarding, and I felt great about the position that I was in. I shared my signature airhorn sound effect during my introduction of myself, and a few OLs added it to their pocket of tools; I felt validated and welcomed in the new diverse community I was in. My first day made me feel reassured that I chose the right internship experience for me, the rest of the first week kept that same energy, and I knew the overall experience was what I wanted. I was thankful to be a Roadrunner for the summer.

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Serving as a Graduate Intern with UTSA was a fruitful experience for my professional, and personal development. I was able to gradually take the full lead on the Family Orientation program while my supervisor kept a nearby distance and coached me through things. I was able to practice A/V troubleshooting, presentation flow, connecting with family members & parents, and being able to give different directions to student staff members. I felt seen by my supervisor, Molly, and I felt that she was able to bring out the best in me through all of our interactions. Molly helped me understand that my supervisory approach is grounded in relationship building, and that I am able to put forth my best work when I build a connection with the people that I work with (outside of work related things).

This summer was a time of self-discovery and moving into a stronger state of mind. I felt more connected to myself and who I am as a person thanks to the reflections that I was able to process. I took lots of time to remove unproductive material from my life and I made more room for the things that matter to me. This was a time that I was able to hustle on multiple cylinders, but also re-align myself on a weekly basis from all that I experienced. One of the biggest realizations that I made was how important breathing, enjoying silence, and actively realigning myself was for me. I went on lots of walks, intentionally left behind headphones so that I can listen to the outside world around me, and I absorbed the Texas sun as much as I could. I feel strongly connected to Taoism ideology now, and I want to take time to read up on the subject to verify these feelings. I’m proud of who I’ve become, and I feel that my time with UTSA served as an excellent catalyst in helping me continue to find myself. I’m looking forward to the rest of the adventure ahead!