1. The Advising Backpack: Reflections on What Advisors and Advisees Carry Session # C-314 11 October 2014  Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present. -- Camus NACADA National Conference – Minneapolis -- October 2014 Sarah May Clarkson Juniata College / Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

2.  Session Goals  1)Thoughtfully consider our advising situations – the reality of it. Try to focus on the positive: what inspires and motivates us, who are we privileged to work with and for, what are the structures and processes we use. This will be accomplished through thought and personal consideration. 2)Through thought, writing, discussion, and sharing, participants will recognize what they are feeling good about, acknowledge frustrations, and figure out what is within their power to change or try.... So what is in our “baggage”?

3. Authors, thinkers, activists (and their work), books of a reflective nature that have been helpful to me: Thich Nhat Hanh – his many books and writings Donald Hall -- Life Work, nonfiction Kahlil Gibran – The Prophet Anne D. LeClaire -- Listening Below the Noise, nonfiction Annie Leonard – “The Story of Stuff” Tim O’Brien -- The Things They Carry, fiction David Foster Wallace, writer and novelist Others brought forward by participants:

4. Look. Look inside. What are the people, systems, structures, experiences, personality traits, or values that enable or constrain our advising work? Use the space below to write a paragraph in answer to each question. => What enables our work (encourages us, gives us strength and energy)? => What constrains our work (makes us uncomfortable or frustrated or tired)?

5. Examination. Discussion. Sharing. Form yourselves into small groups. Please identify one person who will share with everyone when we come back together (the voice) and one person who will write down those things that you all agree are important or valuable (the scribe). OK, now focusing as much as possible on the positive, talk about what you BRING that is fundamental to you and your work. What about our work (systems, personnel, structures) is required/mandated/compelled? What do you wish you had packed, or had more of? What, if anything can be left behind? How do we embrace the successful and positive? How do we address or adapt to the hurdles and challenges? Let’s offer each other actionable ideas and suggestions or sustaining words of support. Pick one question or try to address them all.  What do you bring?  What does the institution/system/structure compel or require?  What do you wish you had more of?  What can be left behind?  How do we, can we, adapt?

6. Examination. Discussion. Sharing. Same thing, but for advisees. OK, now focusing as much as possible on the positive, talk about what your advisees BRING that fundamentally affects you, your work, and their future. What about your advisees is required or compelled by the institution or system? What do you wish they had packed, or had more of? What, if anything can they leave behind? How do we embrace the successful and positive in them? How do we address or adapt to the hurdles and challenges we might face together? Let’s offer each other actionable ideas and suggestions or sustaining words of support. Pick one question or try to address them all.  What do advisees bring?  What does the institution/system/structure compel or require of them?  What do you wish you they had more of?  What can they leave behind?  How do they adapt? Can we adapt with them?

7. Humor sure can help...

8. Coming back together, but first, reflect. Take three or four minutes to free write in the space below in which you reflect on what you have learned or found illuminating, what you might have come to accept, or come to understand and accept (or not) about the institutions/structures/personnel within (or with) you work.

9. Coming full circle. Sharing and discussion, group by group. Make note below of the comments or ideas that made an impression on you from your fellow participants.

10. Finally. Is what we bring and carry into advising a burden? What about our advisees? It doesn’t have to be. Given some of our challenges, what is within our power (what do we have access to) that inspires or sustains us? What can we be grateful for? Where will our good energy go? Through our time together now, and further thought, reflection, and conversation, we can keep these questions in mind. Below I hope you can identify at least two things you take away from this session. Make note of them below. 

11. Thank you very much for attending this session. Please complete an evaluation; your feedback is valuable to me. This is session # C-314, entitled: “ The Advising Backpack: Reflections on What Advisors and Advisees Carry ” Hand-outs are posted on the NACADA website. Sarah May Clarkson / Juniata College / Huntingdon, Pennsylvania clarkss@juniata.edu