4352Phil

**The fact that Student Affairs helps students to deal with the challenges of college life and reach their full potential through support and guidance is what inspired me to pursue a career in this field. Helping people overcome challenges and reach their full potential is an issue that is close to my heart because I was born with cerebral palsy. As an individual with a disability, I have had many people help me to overcome challenges and reach my full potential. Now, as a Student Affairs professional, I feel as though I have the opportunity to give back and help others overcome challenges by offering them support and guidance. Currently, my role at Student Accessibility Services is to help students obtain the support and accommodations that they need to excel in and out of the college classroom. I also offer guidance to professors about how to best accommodate students. The support and guidance that is provided by our department as well as the many other divisions of Student Affairs is important because it enhances and improves the college experience. Without the support services that our office provides, for example, students would have a difficult time successfully completing assignments and maneuvering the campus. Similarly, without the support and guidance of the Financial Aid division of Student Affairs, many students would not be able to afford college.** **We also need to help students mature in seven key areas which Arthur Chickering labeled “The Seven Vectors of Development.” These seven vectors include helping students develop competency; managing their emotions; moving from autonomy to interdependence; developing interpersonal relationships; establishing identity; and developing purpose and integrity (Evans, et al., p. 36). Helping students develop these seven vectors is important because each has “direction and magnitude” and is “a highway for journeying toward individualization” (Chickering and Reisser, 1993, p. 35). Assisting students with their journey through individualization and establishing their identities is an extremely important purpose of Student Affairs because in order to reach their full potential, students need to have a clear understanding of who they are and that which they are striving to become.** **As I continue on my journey through Student Affairs, I hope to make a difference in students’ lives and stay true to my philosophy of our profession. Through support, guidance, and encouragement, I hope to help students develop competency both professionally and personally so that they become well-rounded, productive citizens within our society.**
 * When I contemplate the purpose of Student Affairs, three words immediately come to mind: mentor, support, and development. As Student Affairs professionals, it is our responsibility to serve as mentors for our students as they transition and adapt to the college environment. For many students, college is a time of firsts: their first time leaving home, their families, and friends they have known a lifetime. College is also a time of change: a change in atmosphere, independence, priorities, people, and knowledge. All of these changes and firsts can be extremely overwhelming for students. During the overwhelming stress and uncertainty, it is important that students have people they can turn to for guidance and support, and the people who are responsible for providing students with guidance and support as well as that “It’s going to be okay, you can do this” encouragement are those of us who work in student affairs. Through Academic Advising, Counseling Services, Residence Life activities, Financial Aid services, Student Accessibility services, and the many other support services that the department of Student Affairs provides, students have an outlet, a place where they can express themselves and obtain the help and assistance that they need to reach their full potential.**