Staying Steadfast Amidst Non-Stop Change

2010: A Financial Aid OdysseyRMASFAA CONFERENCE

October 10-13

Staying Steadfast Amidst Non-Stop Change

The NewBeginning

Ending,Losing, Letting Go

The Neutral Zone

The NewBeginning

Ending,Losing, Letting Go

The Neutral Zone

Ending, Losing, Letting Go

Hints for Helping With A Transition

Information

Information

Information

Hints for Helping With A Transition

• Openly acknowledge loss, the importance of the loss

• Expect overreaction, grieving

• Take care of each other

• Define what’s over, what’s not over

• Always remember the good old days with fondness

The Neutral Zone

The NewBeginning

Ending,Losing, Letting Go

The Neutral Zone

Characteristics of Neutral Zone

Anxiety rises – motivation falls

More absences

More errorsMore turnover

Can be a very creative time

The NewBeginning

Ending,Losing, Letting Go

The Neutral Zone

The New Beginning

The New Beginning

• Keep in Mind– Everyone moves through the zones at

different times.– It’s not a linear

movement.The NewBeginning

Ending,Losing, Letting Go

The Neutral Zone

Why We Do What We Do?

• Have to remember we’re doing good work. Able to help someone every day.

• Move students from poverty to self-sufficiency. Break the cycle of poverty.

Why We Do What We Do?

• It’s a serving profession.

• Serving other people makes me feel good.

• I like knowing that I helped make a teacher, or a plumber or a doctor or a truck driver.

Why We Do What We Do?

• I like satisfaction of helping, even when I don’t get anything in return. Few come back to say thank you. Doesn’t matter.

• Pure satisfaction of helping people.

Other Comments

• Every job has bad parts. There are bad days, but I keep coming back.

• SFA renews itself every year.

• Had students swear at me for not approving larger loan come back as senior and say thank you for keeping debt down.

Other Comments

• Not Like: get so wrapped up in duties I forget why I’m here

• Like: when I calm the fears of parents

• It’s gratifying when a student brings a friend to me and says, “you can talk to her – she’ll help you.”

Other Comments

• Like least: ACG, but that’s going away

• Like best: office with windows, vibrancy of campus, starting anew each fall

Other Comments

• Like least: can never take 2 week vacation, nor even 1 week during summer

• Will look for director position, “once I know what I’m doing.”

It’s All About Relationships

They know:

Your are committed to excellence

You are trustworthy

You truly do care about your students

Thanks for Attending