Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction:
This is a one-on-one meeting with a student I have worked closely with in
an advising capacity all year. Her name and identifying information have been
changed to ensure her privacy. She is a twenty-one year old junior psychology
major at Bridgewater State University. Her social class, sexual orientation, and
religious status are unknown based off current knowledge. She is currently
this role by the end of the semester—a major theme throughout our conversation.
She also spoke of other roles such as being an RA; her plans to focus more on
personal goals for next year; and her relationship with her boyfriend, older sister,
and friends, and fellow executive board members. She and I meet weekly, often
with the co-advisor to the organization. In addition to working closely with this
student in an advising and helping capacity this year, I also thought she would be
a good helpee for this assignment as I knew she would offer good feedback from
know the two of you have know if it is worth sometimes wonder if she is trying
worked together this bringing up because to steer the conversation away from
year and are friends there is only like three what she is thinking and feeling by
outside of your work weeks left of the asking others to speak about it
together but it seems like semester. I don’t know if from their perspective/experience
there’s a bit of a conflict it was the type of instead. I tried to respond by
between your role as situation I just needed to summarizing what she had shared
outgoing president and vent and let go of to reflect that I understood what
his role as incoming because I was writing his she said and shared my thoughts
president. I can tell just transition letter today through my observations and
by the way you’ve and there are no hard questions rather than telling her
described some of this feeling there, I think it’s “what I think”
that it feels really more just, I don’t know.
frustrating and I remember when I was Tried to match affect—there were
invalidating to have your transitioning into times she was laughing and other
ideas shut down or it becoming president last times she was being more serious
seems like maybe he’s year and it is a very
been kind of dismissive weird time because
to you at times. I’m you’re like I know I’m Reflection of feeling—frustrated,
wondering if this is going to be in charge of invalidated, shut down, dismissed
something you’ve felt the organization next
comfortable sharing with year but I’m not right
him or if it is something now and how do I toe the Open question but don’t know if it
the two of you have line between that and it’s was confusion since I included two
addressed at all? also a lot of, too, like you questions in one
want to prove yourself
that you’re ready for this
so I think a lot of the time
when you’re going to
make choices and do
things you want to show
confidence but I think
sometimes if you don’t
know how to necessarily
navigate that I know I
felt like oh crap, was I
just being disrespectful,
was I not listening as
much as I should be. But
I think if anything
happens again then I
can, like I may say
something like “hey
what’s going on? What’s
your thought process
here?” But I don’t know,
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 6
situation, or situation want to share all the thought about after, and actually
from yesterday, and also experiences I’ve had this incorporated into a future meeting
a plan for moving year with him and help was to 1) explore what she would
forward. I think him with his transition say to the incoming president and
something I’m noticing but I also don’t want to how she would approach it, and 2)
that you’re bringing to step the line and feel like discuss what the potential
this situation is your I’m telling him what to outcomes might be b addressing it
ability to empathize with do….because I do really by asking “If you were to address
[insert student name], care about the it what might that look like?” and
having been in his organization and I want “
position last year and him to know everything
recognizing the to the best of his abilities However, it seemed she did make
transition experience so he can take it and run it a goal for herself to address it
from the perspective of as far as he can. But next time in order for it to not
the incoming person and sometimes I feel like fester
knowing what happened when I say things that
last year with you and I’m not being listened to Reflection of value—wanting to
last year’s president and because it’s more, again, be understanding of the other
what it’s like. It seems like that trying to prove student’s experience
like you’re trying to be yourself thing. I’ll give
really intentional of and an idea and it’s like no, Pointing out discrepancies: I
mindful of what he is we’re not doing that, not noticed she wanted to support him
experiencing and going because it wasn’t a good as he transitioned into his new
through at this time and idea but more so because role while also wanting to take
being conscious of that, you’re not president care of herself in her own
while also being very anymore and I am. I transition process—illustrated it
attune with what you’re don’t know it’s been a as a juggling act with meeting
feeling through this weird balance. both of their needs—was glad it
process. It seems like was affirmed by her
you’re trying to play a
bit of juggle act—like I worried she thought I was
trying to meet your needs questioning her commitment to
in this transition process, the organization or her role by
while also trying to meet pointing out some of the
his needs. challenges with the incoming
president---which is why I
expressed a louder “yeah” when
she said she cared about the
organization. I didn’t know if she
thought she needed to defend her
commitment in anyway which is
why I wanted to make sure I
reflected her feelings for and
value to the organization in my
response
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 8
maintaining our
friendship.
Yeah, so [insert student’s Yeah absolutely, I mean I Point out discrepancy: pointing
name], I think you’re think that comes up for a out that she may feel like she is
bringing up a really lot of situations in my life comfortable with conflict or
good point of people in and I’ve definitely gotten addressing conflict but it is harder
leadership roles, in better at it as I’ve gone to actually address it, especially
professional worlds, and through college. I when the other person is both a
in classes, experience remember one situation, friend too
when working with a I used to very, like, you
friend and how you could walk all over Paraphrasing: reflecting back her
navigate that situation. me…very much a people point about it being challenging
You said on the one pleaser, and I still am, managing conflict, especially with
hand, you think you feel but I would completely a friend, and feeling like you can
comfortable with conflict forget about myself and handle it but it being more
and will be able to do anything for anybody difficulty it reality
handle a situation with a else. One of my best
friend who you are also friend’s now, her name is It seemed like this may be at the
working in a certain Mary, and we were on root of some of the challenges she
capacity with but then the RA staff together my was bringing up that her issues
when you actually sophomore year and she were not only with peers she was
encounter that situation was being so mean to me working with as student leaders,
it can be much more and I could not figure out but who were also her friends
difficult. So maybe why. One day, and there
things are more easier had been multiple snide
said than done—it comments, and I finally
seemed like you were called her out and was
getting at that point and like “what’s going on?
I’m wondering if you Why are you being so
could talk a bit more mean to me?” and she
about that—I think it’s was like “you haven’t
an important point you told me to stop yet” and I
brought up. was like, huh, very
interesting way to teach
me a lesson and she
recognized and
apologized for being
mean but she was like,
“you never once stood
up or said anything, I
would just make
comments and I didn’t
know they bothered you”
and I was like “well
yeah, they do…you’re
hurting my feelings, like,
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 11
teams or groups or staffs person I’ve ever met so component in all the work she
of people who were we’re like polar does – with others and by
relying on you and you opposites but it’s nice herself—I wanted to ask about
maybe didn’t want to because we both kind of how to incorporate it in her
disappoint them and it bring each other into the personal goal setting and action
seems like you’ve middle. So he recognizes planning
already come up with that in some areas of his
some great strategies life he needs to be more It was exciting to see her talk
this semester setting team-focused and I about her sister and boyfriend—it
personal goals. In recognize that in some seemed these relationships were
thinking about this big areas of my life I need to really important to her and great
shift from this year to focus on myself more so I support systems. She also lit up
next year, where you are can help more people. So while talking about them and her
going to be doing more just being with him and affect remained much more
work that’s focused on sharing my goals with positive and hopeful then when
yourself, your him has been awesome we started – I wanted to join with
development, your because we kind of bring her in that enthusiasm my smiling
experiences, how do you a different lens into and saying “yeah!,” “awesome,”
think you can things so he’s been etc.
incorporate awesome level of
accountability in these accountability. And my She pointed out being
individualistic pursuits sister and I have this extrinsically motivated, which
and goals? dream to create this was very apparent in this
community wellness conversation, and how the podcast
center together. It’s gave her some tools/strategies for
funny because I used to maintain motivation by looking at
say it was not outlandish, current and future self
but a dream far in the
future, but the more we
talk about it, I’m like we
can actually do this so
like when I heard about
this internship that I was
telling you about, they
were the first two people
I called to tell about and
they were so excited with
me. So just keeping them
close to my hear and
sharing with them what’s
going on, I get proud and
excited about things
going on but I also feel
comfortable sharing with
them challenges that
occur too, so knowing
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 16
and it seems like they hang out we don’t just didn’t want to pry but rather
also help give you some talk about involvement reflect on the balance she and her
of that balance that and we have that balance boyfriend brought to one another)
you’re looking for and in life so I feel very so concluded with “maybe” as an
maybe even vice versus lucky. attempted to let her tell me if I
with your boyfriend was on point or not—which I
given that you both look guess I was, based on her
at things through a response.
different lens but your
able to offer that balance
to each and your
relationship maybe.
That’s great. So we’ve Um, no I feel pretty Restorying and action planning:
talked about a lot of good. I think it’s funny, I wanted to summarize everything
things and I know we’re didn’t really recognize we talked about and tie in key
getting close to time so I the common theme of themes and outcomes of
think as we start to wrap I’ve been thinking a lot conversation to see if I missed
up I just wanted to check about transitions lately. anything or anything to build on.
in about some of the big No I feel like I have some However, feel I talked too much
things that have come good strategies for how I and didn’t want to dominate the
up, I know you started can move forward with conversation.
this conversation with all the sorts of
some concerns regarding transitions, I feel good Maybe I could’ve said “We’ve
the transition process about what’s happening talked a lot about some of the
and situations that have with [insert student transitions you are experiencing
come up with you and name] and feel like I right now and both the challenges
[insert student name], recognize if something and goals related to these
specifically, as outgoing else were to happen, I transitions. In thinking about
and incoming president should deal with it…well everything we’ve talked about,
and navigating some of I guess I shouldn’t say what do you see as your next
those challenges with “should deal with it” steps, both in the [insert
each other with maybe because I am dealing organization name] transition
comments being made or with it by talking about process and your own personal
feeling very dismissed at it….then I should say transition process?” instead to
times and also being something but for right make it shorted and more focused
mindful of some of the now I feel better that I towards action planning
challenges you’ve was able to talk to
encountered this year as someone about it and let Her response reflected new
president, especially it go and not let it fester insight on the common theme of
looking at some of the on it and in terms of the transitions and connection to
challenges with the individual stuff, I’m just goals and actions moving forward.
marketing team and excited….I feel more I was also glad she expressed
looking ahead to excited than talking through it was helpful and
problem solving for next overwhelmed but I’m brought clarity or ease to her.
year and communicating more excited.
that to folks but then also
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 18
Conclusion:
I hit the five stages although it seemed more fluidly intertwined than strategically
sequenced. I think I created an empathic relationship through a lot of verbal and non-
and concerns; and maintaining eye contact and joining with her in body language and
affect. I illuminated her story and strengths in the conversation by pointing out key
recognizing skills and strategies used with past and current challenges. Goals became a
big theme of the conversation, both in discussing her existing goals for next year as well
as setting some goals for addressing the challenges with the organization transitions. I
action planning process. The action planning came about half or three quarters of the
way through, before all of the restorying. We discussed resiliency factors, strategies, and
actions for handling conflict related to the leadership transition and incorporating
accountability into her individual goals and pursuits next year. It was difficult because
she guided the conversation, which I was glad she felt she had that agency, but I felt more
I went into this session with some personal goals: to not use a question in all of
my responses, to challenge the student when it was helpful, reflect feelings and meanings,
and practice self-disclosure. These have all been areas I have found more challenging
this semester and feel I have made steady, although sometimes slow, progress. I was able
to accomplish each of these goals in this session, although there were still definite areas
spoke, however this time I only used them with half of my utterances. While I did
challenge once and point out a discrepancy in my 10 minute, this time I was able to do it
a couple times while still supporting the student. I reflected feelings a couple times in my
other interview but this time reflected the student’s current and past feelings and
relating to the student’s experience and point out observations from the session and our
ongoing work together. I don’t recall doing in the 10 minute transcript and have
struggled with throughout the semester as I am very hesitant to share of myself but saw
Two concerns or areas of improvement that emerged were that I felt I talked too
much, especially towards the end and I also felt like the conversation seemed all over the
place at times yet seemed to synthesize by the end. These are things I want to be mindful
of moving forward. It was also great because I was able to get feedback from her and she
said she appreciated it being conversational and that she doesn’t like when adults are a
blank wall staring at her when she talks. She also expressed how helpful it was to
“unpack” a lot of things and use a helper as a sounding board. We have had a couple
advising meetings since this time and I feel this conversation helped to create a space for
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 21
her to revisit some of these topics with myself and the co-advisor and has also allowed
advising work with students, and the class I have seen definite growth this semester.