Greater Gator Conference
Over the past few weeks and months, I've had people approach me about the Greater Gator Conference. In response, I would give my spiel about intentional involvement and why it's so important to find meaning throughout the college experience. While these broad themes connected with some, I'd like to tell my story and why I've worked to form and develop the Greater Gator Conference over this past year.
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My first time at the University of Florida was my Preview session. As a first-generation college student, I wasn't aware of how the college search or application process worked. I never visited a school for a tour of their campus. But somehow, I made it to Gainesville. As I made my way to the Reitz Union from the Commuter Lot, only then did I begin to realize the gravity of the situation—I would be spending the next four years of my life here. As a freshman student, I explored a plethora of interests including economics, mathematics, student government, community service, part-time work, and research. I was involved and engaged and I loved every moment of it.
But as time went on, I began to love each moment a bit less. I felt overcommitted and I began to live with the guilt that I'd taken opportunities away from deserving others who could and would have done much more had they been given the chance. While I survived and generally did well throughout my sophomore year, my continued accumulation began to wear on me as I entered my junior year.
Honestly, junior year was tough. At different points during this time, I'd lost control of my weight and felt stressed beyond comprehension. Once I realized I couldn't handle it all, I checked into the Counseling and Wellness Center to catch myself from sliding any further. Fortunately, I had a lot of support along the way, but I understand that this support isn't universally experienced. So I began thinking, reflecting on my experiences so far.
A common interview technique is S.T.A.R. Using the S.T.A.R. technique, one would state the Situation, the Task, the Activity, and the Result. Using this technique as a way to frame my entire college experience, I began to unravel my collegiate story into its component parts.
Through this thought exercise, I knew I'd made some mistakes. While some mistakes were irreconcilable, other mistakes were not. And in this moment, the initial designs of the Greater Gator Conference began to form.
Bringing together a group of individuals including Roudy Bourisquot, Ciddjyne Chery, Maxwell Mattern, Brandi McGhee, Daniel Milstein, Dashari Kearse, Rachel Lowe, and Ana Sotillo along with support from the Center for Leadership and Service, the Department of Student Activities and Involvement, and Student Government, these broad themes soon became specific ideas with desired outcomes to impact not just those in attendance, but the entire University. We would not change the Result, Activity, or Task. We would change the Situation.
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The Greater Gator Conference might be a shout into the void and oblivious to the greater workings of student involvement on the University of Florida campus, but it's an attempt to help others avoid the mistakes that I and so many others have made.
I believe the Greater Gator Conference will serve to help students become Greater, not necessarily the greatest. Sometimes, it felt like I wasn't trying hard enough, that I wasn't doing enough, or that I wasn't being enough. But now I know that's not true.
Together as members of the Greater Gators, we will encourage those students who will join us to explore who they are, engage with others through kindness, and hopefully provide an example of what it means to ultimately return the favor. Whether you attend the Greater Gator Conference or just stop to reflect on where you've been, who've you met, and what you've been able to do, the invitation to become a Greater Gator is open to all.
It's been a labor of love since Day 1 and I'm glad to know that these ideas will come to fruition in about a week's time. The past three and half years here have taught me some of the most important life lessons I'll learn. I look forward to sharing what I now know with others and making the most of this grand college experience.
--
My first time at the University of Florida was my Preview session. As a first-generation college student, I wasn't aware of how the college search or application process worked. I never visited a school for a tour of their campus. But somehow, I made it to Gainesville. As I made my way to the Reitz Union from the Commuter Lot, only then did I begin to realize the gravity of the situation—I would be spending the next four years of my life here. As a freshman student, I explored a plethora of interests including economics, mathematics, student government, community service, part-time work, and research. I was involved and engaged and I loved every moment of it.
But as time went on, I began to love each moment a bit less. I felt overcommitted and I began to live with the guilt that I'd taken opportunities away from deserving others who could and would have done much more had they been given the chance. While I survived and generally did well throughout my sophomore year, my continued accumulation began to wear on me as I entered my junior year.
Honestly, junior year was tough. At different points during this time, I'd lost control of my weight and felt stressed beyond comprehension. Once I realized I couldn't handle it all, I checked into the Counseling and Wellness Center to catch myself from sliding any further. Fortunately, I had a lot of support along the way, but I understand that this support isn't universally experienced. So I began thinking, reflecting on my experiences so far.
A common interview technique is S.T.A.R. Using the S.T.A.R. technique, one would state the Situation, the Task, the Activity, and the Result. Using this technique as a way to frame my entire college experience, I began to unravel my collegiate story into its component parts.
- The Situation or context was the University of Florida and its culture that encourages and reinforces that students get involved, although not necessarily stating how or why.
- The Task or objectives included researching, applying, and being accepted to the biggest organizational names on campus because "they'll look great on my resume" and "give me some great connections." And let's not consider what would happen if these pursuits were unsuccessful, requiring me to reconsider my goals, values, and beliefs about me, others, and the greater world around us.
- The Activity or actions taken ultimately led to gains and losses in a variety of ways, with the successes on display for all others to see while the failures hidden out of place and out of mind.
- The Result or final outcome left me feeling overwhelmed and ever more driven to "climb the ladder" toward some unseen and unknown height, only to realize that there's nothing there after all.
Through this thought exercise, I knew I'd made some mistakes. While some mistakes were irreconcilable, other mistakes were not. And in this moment, the initial designs of the Greater Gator Conference began to form.
Bringing together a group of individuals including Roudy Bourisquot, Ciddjyne Chery, Maxwell Mattern, Brandi McGhee, Daniel Milstein, Dashari Kearse, Rachel Lowe, and Ana Sotillo along with support from the Center for Leadership and Service, the Department of Student Activities and Involvement, and Student Government, these broad themes soon became specific ideas with desired outcomes to impact not just those in attendance, but the entire University. We would not change the Result, Activity, or Task. We would change the Situation.
--
The Greater Gator Conference might be a shout into the void and oblivious to the greater workings of student involvement on the University of Florida campus, but it's an attempt to help others avoid the mistakes that I and so many others have made.
I believe the Greater Gator Conference will serve to help students become Greater, not necessarily the greatest. Sometimes, it felt like I wasn't trying hard enough, that I wasn't doing enough, or that I wasn't being enough. But now I know that's not true.
Together as members of the Greater Gators, we will encourage those students who will join us to explore who they are, engage with others through kindness, and hopefully provide an example of what it means to ultimately return the favor. Whether you attend the Greater Gator Conference or just stop to reflect on where you've been, who've you met, and what you've been able to do, the invitation to become a Greater Gator is open to all.
It's been a labor of love since Day 1 and I'm glad to know that these ideas will come to fruition in about a week's time. The past three and half years here have taught me some of the most important life lessons I'll learn. I look forward to sharing what I now know with others and making the most of this grand college experience.