Jessica Morgan

UNIV390

Reflective Essay

3/26/15

1

My role as GreenHouse Learning Community Assistant (LCA) this past semester has

impacted me both personally and professionally, as I have developed a stronger understanding of

my leadership and work style, broadened my network of support, and realized that Student

Affairs is a career path I would like to pursue. In my last semester in this role, I have reflected

more than ever on what it means to be civically responsible and committed, and plan to carry on

conversations surrounding this topic; my understanding of the value of civic engagement will

without a doubt inform the choices I make in the future. As a senior that has taken advantage of

many opportunities and experiences at Loyola, I feel that I have grown into a student that

embodies the mission of the University - “to expand knowledge in the service of humanity

through learning, justice, and faith” - through both personal and professional experiences.

Working for the Department of Residence Life, majoring in Environmental Studies, a discipline

with a heavy focus on social consciousness and responsibility, and engaging with the Loyola and

Chicago community on multiple fronts otherwise has truly shaped my undergraduate experience

and makes me confident that as an alumni and professional I will continue to be grounded in the

values of service, justice, and community that have made my education a transformative one.

Thinking back to when I first started working as the GreenHouse LCA two years ago, the

first year the position was introduced at Loyola, I can remember being excited, overwhelmed,

and not sure of what the position would come to entail. There was not much guidance, my

supervisor did not have a clear picture of what this role looked like or required, and there were

many factors left open-ended. Now in my final semester, it is amazing to me that I can look

back at my experience and know that I played a large role in defining what this position looks

like at Loyola. My being one of the first students to hold the position, and the only student that

was asked to return for a second year, meant that I had the opportunity and responsibility of

mentoring new LCAs and helping to develop the Learning Community program further with a

leadership team, which has been a large focus of mine this year. Looking back, the challenges

that came with stepping into a brand-new position were often overwhelming and required a lot of

creativity and commitment on my part; without these challenges, however, I do not think I could

have grown as much as I have in the past two years.

Jessica Morgan

UNIV390

Reflective Essay

3/26/15

2

In the present semester, I feel that I have grown so much in terms of my ability to reflect

on my experiences and accomplishments and translate those effectively to employers,

supervisors, and even myself. I have found myself fitting the description of the “Competence

Stage” and feeling fulfilled, invested, and confident in the work that I am doing (Sweitzer and

King, 39). This semester has served as a time of transformation and empowerment for me; I

have developed a leadership style that I feel comfortable with and confident in, and do not

require as much supervision as I once did. I also find myself enjoying and appreciating the LCA

role in a new way (Sweitzer and King, 333). Similarly, in my process of applying for Graduate

School for Higher Education, as well as seeking professional employment, I have come to realize

myself as a professional and not just as an “intern” or “student worker.” I have gained

confidence in knowing that my supervisors look to me as a “go-to” person and value my work

and opinion. This sense of confidence and empowerment makes the future seem less daunting

and more exciting, and makes exploring professionalism fun.

I also identify with the “Culmination Stage” in that my university experience is wrapping

up, and my time in this position is almost over. The statement made in “The Successful

Internship,” that it is typical to feel “both pride in your achievements and some sadness over the

ending of the experience” is spot on (Sweitzer and King, 41). I have given so much to this

position and received so much in return, that it is difficult to think about moving forward and

entering a new phase of my life. As a young professional, this position has helped to sharpen my

communication skills, taught me how to effectively collaborate with peers, supervisors, and

outside partners, learn to work through challenge and be more autonomous, and strengthened my

ability to balance multiple commitments and care for myself at the same time. In thinking about

where I see myself in the future, I feel like this position has opened up so many new doors and

opportunities for me. Prior to working as a LCA, I had no interest in pursuing Higher Education

or Student Affairs. Now, I have been accepted to graduate school and offered positions in the

field; it is wild to think about where life can take you and how many options and paths there

really are.

Jessica Morgan

UNIV390

Reflective Essay

3/26/15

3

Thinking forwardly, a large question that has come up for me this year, as is typical of

most graduating seniors, is what my next step is. I identify so much of who I am with being a

student and excelling at school and in an educational environment that I have struggled with the

thought of who I will be when this chapter ends. On one hand, the idea of attending graduate

school is very alluring to me because I know I will thrive in that environment and be able to

balance Masters level coursework with an assistantship. On the other hand, I have a hard time in

(what feels to me like) jumping into Higher Education and leaving behind my environmental

passions. While I have been feeling competent and confident in my job performance this year, I

have struggled internally with wanting to “do it all” while knowing that the capacities I engage in

both of these fields (student affairs and sustainability) with will be changing. While I do not

have everything sorted out yet, I do know that my commitment to community, civic

responsibility, and excellence is unwavering. I know that my commitment to these things shapes

the decisions that I am making for my future and helps to narrow the choices of challenges I

want to pursue.

In connecting with the text, I recognize how my job as LCA has given me “the

opportunity to learn about the public relevance and social obligations of the profession” and

made me question what social obligation means in different capacities, and how I can live out

my obligations in the best way that I can (Sweitzer and King, 350). In the past month, I have

made the decision to defer enrollment to graduate school and push myself to be challenged in an

environment that is not a university setting. This idea is super scary to me, but also the choice

that I believe I will learn and grow the most from at this point in my life. Choosing to work for a

year in the environmental sector opens up so many questions for me. For me, doing work that is

worthwhile is really important. Accomplishments, self-determination, self-actualization, and

intrinsic rewards are all components of this type of “success” and components that matter a lot to

me in deciding what my next step will be (Sweitzer and King, 340). Another idea that is salient

to me is the notion of being a “civic professional.” This is where I find myself being challenged

to continue to live out the mission of Loyola; a mission that has honestly served as a guiding

voice in my search for positions and organizations to work for.

Jessica Morgan

UNIV390

Reflective Essay

3/26/15

4

In sum, in reflecting on my experience this past semester as the GreenHouse Learning

Community Assistant, as well as my undergraduate experience as a whole, I have been able to

learn so much about myself, the way I work and what fulfills me, as well as what I want for my

future. The growth I have made personally and professionally as a result of my work experience

has helped to make my future decisions much clearer and has given me the confidence I need to

take on the next chapter in my life. Ultimately, I know I want to be a part of an organization that

engages a community of people in a positive and impactful way, and work in an environment

where I will feel valued and challenged. While I am unsure of what the future holds for me, I

know that my work ethic and ability to connect with people, traits that have developed in my

time as LCA, will guide me and help me to stay afloat.

Works Cited

Sweitzer, H. Frederick, and Mary A. King. The Successful Internship: Personal, Professional,

and Civic Development in Experiential Learning. Fourth Edition. Belmont: Brooks/Cole,

2014. Print.