“I Believe in Laughter”
I Believe in Laughter
As student affairs professionals, we are often asked to deal with a variety of situations – some comical, some intense and some just downright absurd. The beauty of this profession is the balance between routine and spontaneity. While we can schedule meetings, programs and conferences, we also have those unexpected events that pop up – such as the student who walks into our office looking for advice or that eventful duty night we weren’t expecting.
I am writing this on the heels of one of those kinds of evenings. While we can prepare for every possible situation, students always find a way to test us or challenge us. We become better professionals because of this. However, it can be draining on us as professionals to always be one step ahead of the current trends, issues or concerns on our campus.
This is why I believe in laughter. While it can be easy to focus on the challenges of our daily lives working with a diverse student, staff and faculty population, it is important to recognize the benefits of laughter. Even on the toughest days, we should try to find a way to laugh – maybe it is when our staff members recount a ridiculous story from their past week, maybe it is when we attend a campus event where students are showcasing their talents or maybe it is when our co-workers share their stories. Positive attitudes can be contagious. So can laughs.
We are lucky to be in a profession where we have the ability to interact with people on a daily basis. We are lucky that college students are still eager to experience campus life. We are lucky that our profession recognizes when change needs to be made. We are lucky that, despite the challenges of working with an ever-changing population, we are able to find joy and laughter in what we do. I encourage you to get up right now, shut your office door, throw your head back and let out a big laugh. It will make even the bleakest Monday morning so much better.
-Meredith Mickaliger, CCPA Director of Operations
Resident Director, Loyola Marymount University
One Response to ““I Believe in Laughter””
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