Evolution of Style

When I was forced out of higher education against my will five years ago, I had only been a dad for a little over three and a half years. The kid was walking, not talking much, biting the crap out of kids he didn't like, et cetera, et cetera.

Suffice it to say, I was still learning on the job of being a parent. The role I had as an academic advisor, though, was more or less set. My game and style were on point in that job; I was a friend and mentor, helping to shepherd the lost through their time at my prior institution.

Now, though, as the parent of an eight year old (who, as an uber extrovert consider me, an uber introvert, a "stick in the mud"), I find myself playing a bit of a different role at a different kind of institution.

I'm a parent at work now—a lot more than I ever expected to be.

Part of it is the nature of the transactions I am having with students. For most of the students I encounter, I only get to see them once due to the set up of the retention system here at the community college that now signs my checks. So I don't really get to develop a relationship with the students I meet and serve; at least, not a long term relationship like I did at previous stops.

Also, given the nature of an open-access institution, I often find myself interacting with individuals who don't have a plan; who are not wholly prepared; who lack a fair amount of guidance and (at times) self-confidence.

Others are arrogant, cocky, and think they are brilliant when in actuality, they have no idea or clue what they are doing or need to do but are not willing to admit it.

In both of these cases, I find myself slipping into more of a parenting mode; either by nurturing and helping boost their confidence—or by administering some tough love because, well, you slacked off:

Sorry, Charlie. But this is true.

I don't want you, dear reader, to think that I am complaining. This is more observational than anything else. I just find it interesting that, after not working in higher education for four years, that I find myself taking this different tack.