First Week of Staff

After finishing the first week of school as a staff member, there are a couple things that stood out to me.

First of all, the things I expected.
- I really like our staff team. I expected this, but I am nonetheless overwhelmed by their love. I am glad to know each of them individually, and I consider it a blessing to call them my friends. They are people I know will give their all in helping me, as I would do for them.
- Meetings are similar to when I was a student. There's just more of them.
- Freshmen still don't always understand the role of staff. "Wait... you said you graduated already? Why are you here?" --- "yeah, twice actually"
- I really enjoy meeting with students. I go to campus during my free time (see below), and just chill. Whenever I run into people and start conversations, I always come away blessed.

Some things I didn't expect.
- The transition from student to staff wasn't as bad as I would have imagined. It was much harder going from undergrad to grad than from grad to staff. I think because as a grad student in IV, people were constantly asking me "why are you still here" or "are you just here helping out?". Coming on staff, the only questions I got were "are you on staff?". Also, the boundaries that separate student from staff were already sort of forming my grad year, so that wasn't much of a shock.
- I have so much free time. I didn't realize the extent to how much free time I have. Granted, intern meetings haven't started yet, and I haven't found a job. I know that once those things get into place and more structure is put in my life, I won't have as much free time. But as for now, I don't know what to do with myself a lot of the time. I feel guilty because I think there should be more I'm supposed to be doing... but there isn't. I'm just not used to being in Berkeley and having so little to do (for now).
- I stay up late. I thought I would keep a better sleep schedule on staff. I don't know why I really thought that. Probably because I'm old. Anyways, since my brother stays up late, I do too.

So I continue my journey in the staff world. Since I seem to be having so much free time, maybe I'll be updating this more frequently? Probably not though, since I've said that several times. I'm looking forward to how I learn and grow this year, and how I can lead students toward their own growth and development.

It is by the grace of God that I am here, "and grace will lead me home", wherever that may be.