While preparing for my Graduate Assistantship interviews later this month and interviewing students to be my replacement at UWM, I’ve been forced to think about what skill is the most necessary for a Student Affairs student employee. I think most of the skills that we gain in Student Affairs, and the ones we ask students to learn are trainable skills. We can interview a student who may not have specific campus marketing or residential experience, but if they’re a well-rounded individual we can hire them because thankfully, when you’re working in Student Affairs, you’re always learning.

My friend, Dr. Jeanine C. Long, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Director of Career Placement and Development at Southwest Georgia Technical College in Thomasville, GA has had a similar experience. She sent me the following in response to my on-going request for people to send in their own stories of success, mentors, triumphs and more.

Troy Stende just had his whole thought process rearranged by his friend, Chris Jachimowicz. Don’t worry about your weaknesses. It will take so much more effort to improve them than it will to improve your strengths. Learn more about your strengths at http://www.StrengthsQuest.com.

Okay, maybe Jesse didn’t beat Dennis physically, but he shut him down verbally. Last season’s Celebrity Apprentice featured Joan Rivers, Herschel Walker, Clint Black, Jesse James and the unique, flamboyant and unmistakable Dennis Rodman. Dennis really cut up and showed his most ridiculous self and there was much drama. The Donald kept giving him a break and he would skate each week.

You can’t really teach people anything unless they are willing to learn. What I like most is working with willing and eager learners – people who are hungry and are excited about learning new things. These people are GHB’s (growing human beings) and are usually optimistic, open-minded and curious.

The thing I like about President Obama is that he is straight to the point with no hype. In a recent speech to address this nation’s schools, he said that everyone has a responsibility. Well, that’s a fact that I can’t argue with. He charged teachers, parents, students and governments to help turn around schools that aren’t working. The job belongs to us and he is right when he said that none of it will matter unless we each do our part.

I had the privlege of sharing LIGMO and bits of the HeartMath program with 100 teachers and staff at Lincoln Tech in Melrose Park, Illinois last week. Teachers are powerful people and have the opportunity to share their knowledge and shape our future generations.

I’ve got a gig this afternoon at Lincoln College of Technology in Melrose Park, Illinois, outside of Chicago. It is a two hour staff development workshop on LIGMO. the coordinator shared many of the challenges that the staff face, as well as the students and they are looking to be uplifted and presented with some solutions.

Violinist Ken Ford awes me with his high level of passion and energy, the way he moves he audience with his interactive presence and style. What does all of this have to do with learning? Everything. Ken Ford embodied a commitment and love for learning in everything he did. He spoke to the audience at the end and answered some of his most frequently answered questions…

I truly value the opinion of elders because they’ve been there and done that and have such a different perspective. I noticed an older gentleman dancing to his heart’s content. I’m sure he was in his 70s, but the energy he exuded was so youthful.I asked him what was his secret for a long and happy life. His advice was simple and profound:

I’ve come up with a couple tips for students and student leaders that have been very helpful when reaching out to a new group. Recently I started playing pickup ice hockey and I applied the tips to help me overcome my fear of joining this new group.

Dave Kelly, America’s Student Leadership Trainer shares the story of “George, the Drobble”, a story for people of all ages Dave wrote when he was 16. Our hero, George, seeks the secret of life which can only be found at the top of a mountain near his village. He encounters obstacles along the way but still manages to reach his goal.