I'm beginning to really get an understanding of the program and what it has to offer. And I'm really getting involved in a lot of the processes, events and procedures that are involved.
Drive arounds: I was asked by my new boss to drive her to a presentation she was giving on campus. Now the UT campus is huge, and it was a relatively cool day. I use that term loosely because obviously it's no Canadian Winter day down here, but it was only about 45 degrees which isn't all that warm and for a Texan, it's COLD. The problem is there is not nearly enough parking on campus for all of those who work here. So there are limited parking passes and the guidelines about where you can park with which pass is very particular. So we leave the office and drive over to where she needs to be. We discuss that I will sit in the spot until someone asks me to move and we decide on an alternative spot in case I've moved when she gets out. So for 1 hour and 15 min I sat in my boss' Cadillac, listening to country music, while texting my sister and basking in the afternoon sun. By that time the temp had gone up enough that I rolled the window down and was able to enjoy the fresh air. Not bad for my first Thursday on the job.
Info Sessions: I have accompanied one of our professors to the Dramatic Arts lecture to make a quick presentation to the students. This presentation involves about 12 slides and it's a brief run down of what the program is, when it operates, how you can enroll and what it's benefits are. Very informative and helpful for me to see how the presentation is delivered. These info sessions are something we do throughout the year to get interest in the Business Foundations Program.
Presentations/Recruitment: Our weekly meeting with the Students (that work in our office) happens on Mondays. I had attended one and during my second I was asked if I would present at next weeks meeting. I was given a set of slides and I was to practice the "info session speech" to present with another student to the group the following week. Well that was yesterday and I'd say for being BRAND new to the program and office and team I did pretty well. I hadn't given a speech or presented since school and that was 5 years ago now. It's not something that I have kept up with because my positions have never required me to do so. However, I'm really excited to be able to public speak with confidence again. And it looks like I'll be doing some on campus recruitment going forward. Speaking at lectures, at club meetings, fraternity and sorority meetings as well as off campus when we are invited to participate in Community College events and perhaps in the distant future to high school seniors.
Explore UT: This event is put on every year by the university. It's a way for the school to get people in the community on campus. Some people have never been to University, some people have kids considering University, and some people just have a desire to walk around the campus and wouldn't do so otherwise. Whatever the reason thousands of people show up to the school this Saturday March 1 and explore the campus, buildings and participate in all the activities that go on. I've been appointed team lead this year because A. I'm here now and B. None of the Faculty members are available this coming Saturday. So it's just the students and I who will be manning our stations. We are making Sand Bracelets with the kids that come around. That is the age group our activity caters to.
http://www.utexas.edu/know/2014/02/24/be-a-longhorn-for-a-day-at-explore-ut/
Marketing: There are quite a few marketing initiatives taking place as the program is growing. There has been some help but not a full time person in the role. Luckily I have a little experience with social media, word press and I'm super creative. We do have a graphic designer but I'm also learning Adobe Creative Suite so we can cut costs on external vendors and just pay our people. So we are working on some flyer's, creating a banner for a public transit promotion, t-shirts to give to our Summer program students, and creating a presence on social media sites.
ACC Marketplace: This Thursday I am spending the first 2/3 of the day at the Austin Community College Campus in Round Rock (which is a bit North of where my house is) and we are participating in the on-campus Marketplace event. We will be manning a table to distribute handouts and information about the Business Foundations Summer Institute and try to recruit some of the students from their campus for the 8 week intensive program we offer! It will be great practice for me to familiarize myself with the program and what we do. So that I can gain all the confidence needed to become the recruitment person going forward.
And today takes the cake: Work meeting over (NOT LUNCH) pedicures!
Working with a group of ladies really has it's perks. We have a weekly meeting to discuss the upcoming Summer Institute program we run for 8 weeks in June/July. And they've decided that once a month they will treat themselves to pedicures while meeting for an hour. So today is the first day since I've started that they're going. And I've just been invited. So pedicure at 2pm, business meeting during and then done for the day afterwards.
I do love my new job for a lot of reasons, but honestly...what's not to like? There are so many new opportunities that are being presented to me and I'm grateful for so much in life. But it all stems from my parents. They taught me to be bold, they taught me to be brave and that change can be scary but it's not a bad thing. And here I am from Canada to Texas with 6 months of planning and I'm building my new chapter of life here, with this job, and these people, and this amazing opportunity. I'm feeling really lucky. When I set my mind to something, I just go for it. There is no other way for me.
XO
L.
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