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What we do is significant. We are a vital cog in the machinery of life that starts with kids in pre-school and kindergarten, continues with attendance in and graduation from college, and culminates in these same kids contributing to society in ways that are unfathomable and boundless. |
Training Opportunities  When: April 7- 9, 2002Where: Boise, Idaho If I had met the September 7th deadline for the WASFAA newsletter, this article would have had a much different perspective and I wouldn't have had as much trouble writing it. A simple little article about Rendezvous in 2002, the WASFAA Conference in Boise in April. Barb Alm, conference co-chair, asked that we "let folks know that the registration form will be available on the web early January and that conference details are now available there." "No problem," I told myself, thinking that I would just add some blurbs about how beautiful Boise is in the spring and how much fun we are planning to have at the conference. Being the procrastinator I am and hoping September 7th was the "scare date," I thought I had about a one-week grace period. Unfortunately and tragically, September 11, 2001, happened before I sat down to write it. It's now September 16, 2001, and after what seems like several hundred hours of being glued to the TV, I am finally attempting to put down some coherent thoughts. How do I write an article espousing the virtues of coming to Boise and attending the 2002 conference in April? The newsletter deadline "grace period" turned into a "grieving period" as I have just spent five days going through all the stages of grief, several times. Maybe not the type of grief I felt when I lost my dad or Murphy, my black lab of fourteen years, but, on the other hand, a whole different type of grief. One that is combined with intense feelings of nervousness, patriotism, helplessness, pride, and so many more emotions that I become too emotional even trying to remember them all. A feeling of inconsequence is very prominent. I suspect this deplorable tragedy has caused millions of Americans to examine their personal significance and it has added perspective to their lives. It certainly has mine. So much suffering, so much anguish. The feeling that my problems are completely insignificant, combined with feelings of being powerless to do anything to help, is making me feel as though my whole life is trivial. Look at the destruction and sorrow! Who wants to worry about a conference in April? My school stayed open and we went to work - mostly in a vague haze, perhaps unnoticeable, but definitely a cloud. My thoughts were all over the place. I couldn't help thinking how long this will take to sort out and wondering when will it hit closer to home? When will I find out someone I know who has lost a loved one? It may be weeks or months before we learn about friends, and friends of friends, who were directly affected by this insane act of terrorism. Think about our colleagues in EASFAA and other parts of the country who are much more likely to be experiencing the direct consequences. I was thinking that it's likely that we might have had UI alums working in the towers. Maybe even someone I knew or a student I helped at one point. Last I heard, Mike Sommese, a good friend and one of my all-time favorite students, was in New York City doing musical theater off-Broadway. Mike was the type of student we all appreciate - he took the time to say "thanks." Both times I have seen him since he graduated about nine years ago, he has proclaimed to me, and to anyone within earshot, "I couldn't have done it without you!" Financial aid administrators don't need a lot of pats on the back. Those that can't find most of their carrots intrinsically don't last long in our profession. In this way we are all very much alike; we help students because it is in our nature. Like the firemen and policemen and all the emergency personnel we have been watching on TV, we are skilled helpers. Undoubtedly, starting in the next few months and continuing for many years, many of us in this country will have the profound privilege to help some of the children who lost parents on September 11, 2001. We will be called upon to help them reach their goal of a college education. By no means do I mean to compare us to the firemen and thousands of emergency workers and volunteers who are working tirelessly to rescue and retrieve the victims in New York City - they are heroes. But, I do wish to remind all of my financial aid colleagues: you are significant! We are heroes to thousands of students who have gone on to careers of all types. And some of them, like my friend Mike, actually realize it. What we do is significant. We are a vital cog in the machinery of life that starts with kids in pre-school and kindergarten, continues with attendance in and graduation from college, and culminates in these same kids contributing to society in ways that are unfathomable and boundless. Every spring we migrate to a designated geographic spot in the west for a gathering that to many is simply called "WASFAA" (as in "Are you going to WASFAA?"). This spring the WASFAA conference is April 7-9 in Boise. By the time this article is read it will be several months past the events of September 11th , and we may actually be in the mood to look forward to a conference. Anyone who has attended a WASFAA conference knows that along with the educational and professional value of the conference programs and interest sessions, the conference is very much a chance to have fun and celebrate our profession. On April 7 th in Boise we will gather again. I hope we will feel like celebrating by then. At this moment in time, having fun seems like a long shot. But celebrating our profession and what we do is definitely in order. Right now, more than ever, I think we need a hug. This April in Boise lets all meet and have a big hug - a big, collective group hug - and we will say another prayer for the people who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. |
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