Never underestimate the power of twitter.
I don’t think it’s any big secret that I love twitter. If you’re reading this, you most likely saw this linked on my profile or on #sachat, #sagrad, or #sagrow. It has surpassed facebook as my favorite social media site. It is such a wonderful place to connect and network with others through the use of hashtags. I didn’t start using twitter professionally until January or February and since then, I’ve encountered a network of student affairs individuals that are willing to answer random questions, provide guidance, and support me as a graduate student studying student affairs. I’ve been interacting with people on #sachat and I’ve really been enjoying the connections I’ve been making. Recently, I discovered just how much these individuals care and want #sagrads to succeed.
About three weeks ago, @gallagb (read his blog!) was on DePauw’s campus so we took the opportunity to have a meet up and talk for a bit. I was particularly excited as I missed the #sachat tweetup at the NASPA conference. While talking about various things, I discussed the my interest in gaining a practicum experience somewhere in the Philadelphia area over the summer. He gave me advice to put it up on #sachat and see if I got any responses. I was unsure of it but I trusted the process, paying homage to “the process.”
Shortly after posting it on #sachat, I got a direct message from @stacyloliver (check her blog out!) who offered to connect me with another student affairs professional that she knew in the Philly area working at St. Joseph’s University. After introducing us through a very kind email, I was able to connect with the person and indicate my interest in working in the Philly area this summer. We exchanged a couple of emails and she said she would let me know if anything opened up. A couple of days later I got an email from her (the person at St. Joseph’s U.) offering me the chance to work as a summer conference assistant. We spoke on the phone about it, I thought about it, and then accepted the opportunity a couple of days later.
None of this would have happened without twitter (and of course @gallagb & @stacyloliver). I would probably be living in Indiana this summer and getting a practicum experience at a neighboring institution but instead I’m venturing out of the midwest, living in a new city, and exploring a completely different type of institution. All because of the support of student affairs professionals on twitter.
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