My name is Daniel Dilling and I was a part of the HESA class of 2018. During my time in FYE I was fortunate enough to have worked with not only a great supervisor but a great staff as well! If I had to choose one thing to take away from my experience in FYE it is that you need to be constantly open to learning and new information as it comes to you. Moving from a graduate level position to a full time staffed position will be much smoother because of my experiences in FYE preparing me to not always be comfortable in what I am doing but always giving it your best.
One of my favorite memories from working in FYE was being one of the grad students that handed out the Alpha Lambda Delta certificates to students. It was amazing to see these students succeed and seeing their excitement and enjoyment when handing them the certificate with their name on it felt special. I hope to make many more meaningful connections with students in the following year! Coming into the Viking community was a last minute decision but also one of the best I have made and I am thankful for it. The support and structure of the graduate position in FYE has granted me the opportunity to work with students on a higher level as well as grow as an emerging Student Affairs professional! So as you enter graduate school and specifically the First Year Experience office it is important to know that you will have to support, so make connections with students, push yourself into new experiences, and explore what is outside of your comfort zone!
1.)What was one take away that you learned from working in FYE?
You are in FYE for many reasons, to help students, to train staff, to refer students to resources. While all of these things are important, its just as important to realize that you may need help, you will have things to learn, and it's more than ok to use those same resources you refer students to.
2.) How is your experience in FYE preparing you for your first job after Salem State?
Mathew and Franklin hold the GRF in FYE to a high but achievable standard. Learning to hold myself and my work to that standard has helped me complete my work in other positions as well.
3.)What is your favorite memory/the best part of working in FYE thus far?
My favorite memory would be a specific instance of me helping a student. It was the first time I had felt like I was on the right path and like I was actually helping students succeed.
4.) What is one piece of advice you would like to give a first year graduate student who is about to start their Graduate retention fellow in FYE? Its ok to not know how to do everything right away. Approach things with an open mind and know that you are working as a team to complete your goals. Mathew, Franklin, and the other GRF’s are there to support you.
One of my favorite memories from working in FYE was being one of the grad students that handed out the Alpha Lambda Delta certificates to students. It was amazing to see these students succeed and seeing their excitement and enjoyment when handing them the certificate with their name on it felt special. I hope to make many more meaningful connections with students in the following year! Coming into the Viking community was a last minute decision but also one of the best I have made and I am thankful for it. The support and structure of the graduate position in FYE has granted me the opportunity to work with students on a higher level as well as grow as an emerging Student Affairs professional! So as you enter graduate school and specifically the First Year Experience office it is important to know that you will have to support, so make connections with students, push yourself into new experiences, and explore what is outside of your comfort zone!
1.)What was one take away that you learned from working in FYE?
You are in FYE for many reasons, to help students, to train staff, to refer students to resources. While all of these things are important, its just as important to realize that you may need help, you will have things to learn, and it's more than ok to use those same resources you refer students to.
2.) How is your experience in FYE preparing you for your first job after Salem State?
Mathew and Franklin hold the GRF in FYE to a high but achievable standard. Learning to hold myself and my work to that standard has helped me complete my work in other positions as well.
3.)What is your favorite memory/the best part of working in FYE thus far?
My favorite memory would be a specific instance of me helping a student. It was the first time I had felt like I was on the right path and like I was actually helping students succeed.
4.) What is one piece of advice you would like to give a first year graduate student who is about to start their Graduate retention fellow in FYE? Its ok to not know how to do everything right away. Approach things with an open mind and know that you are working as a team to complete your goals. Mathew, Franklin, and the other GRF’s are there to support you.