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After reviewing all the courses that I have taken in the Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel program at Kent State University there were several themes that emerged from course work. These themes include, but are not limited to, self reflection, applying theory to practice, professional development, and Athletics. These themes, specific to me, will be discussed here. In almost the entire course load, with the exception of law, there was a great deal of self reflection. This allowed me to take stock of from where I came and where I wanted to go. This was not limited to just my life, but each class applied what was being taught to me and things I could relate to. I think that this is such an important part of any program that it gives the students a chance to look at where they are headed. It also really helps to understand where you have come and how you got through the stages that you are learning about for example in College Student Development Theory so that when you are dealing with students you have a better understanding of why they are doing what they are doing. While most of what we learn seems like common sense, I think the real reason it seems like that is because we are able to reflect on why it is like that and how applies. So many times classes are just taught and nothing is connected to your life. Another theme is the idea of taking the theory and applying it to practice. This gives you the chance to take what you have learned and reflected on and apply it to your current job or think about how it will apply to what you will be doing later in your career. From the start in most all of the courses the idea that there will be some project that will connect what you have learned to practice is always present. In Law, the best way to learn is to see how it applies in certain cases. The Case Studies course is nothing but taking the theories and deciding how you will make decisions as if you are in those situations. In each of the courses because there is such a feeling of friendship and getting to know those with whom you have class it is easy to talk about these situations and get ideas out in the open. I loved the fact that some of the people in my classes, for whom I have the utmost respect, can challenge me and make me think of things in different ways. This job is just not left to the professors, which adds to the great program. Each faculty member in the program has different ways that gets us to apply theory to practice, but in the end I got the same experience from each of the courses, the ability to take what I learned and apply it to my future jobs. The best example is the ability to learn leadership and integrity and learn what it is going to take to make some of the tough decisions that we will be faced with in administration roles. While I might not be able to regurgitate the names of the theories I have learned, I at least will be able to understand them and help those around me, be they students or the staff that I will be supervising. Each professor is concerned with each student getting the most out of the program and being the best person they can be when they leave the program. I have enjoyed some great conversations about publishing an article about a project I did in class, or thinking about presenting a program at a National or Regional Conference. The more you put into something the more you get out of it; and that is what the faculty talks about from the beginning. In each class session students are given the opportunity to announce professional development opportunities or announcements that will benefit those in class. There is also a sense of getting to know those around you and using your resources in order to get the experience you want out of our time in the program. Finally for me the idea of Athletics was pretty prevalent in almost every course. Not that every course I took was about Athletics, but every course I took had an assignment that allowed me to look at something I was interested in. For me the choice was clear and I went with Athletics every time. The project that stands out in my mind the most was in the course, “College Students and the Environment” where as a group we looked at a sub-population of students at Kent State University and tried to get an idea of how they view campus. Through this project I was able to confirm that I would love to work with Athletics in some capacity. I also had the chance to take a course outside of our program dealing with Athletics, because the faculty wanting me to get the most out of my time at Kent State. This course was taught through the Exercise, Leisure and Sport Department and was led by Laing Kennedy, Director of Athletics and Cathy O’Donnell, Executive Associate Athletic Director at Kent State University. The class was structured as such that taught about the organization of an athletic program and how to make some of the ethically tough decisions that go along with following regulations as set forth by a National office. When there is a win at all cost mentality for coaches they might not want to hear what decisions me as the administrator has made. I was able to tailor my practicum experience I have done and the one I will do to meet my needs and get the experience needed to get a job for the future. As I am sure when looking for a program none of these ideas came to me as something that would be of importance, but I am so glad that they have emerged out of my program and I was able to get these experiences. Every theme that is present nicely goes along with everything that is required in the program. While there was the chance to customize the program to what I wanted to learn, everyone in the program received the chance to do the same. There were many themes that could have been discussed but these were the few that were the most important to me and what I have enjoyed about the program and my time at Kent State University.