Based on the title of this article, you're probably asking yourself what exactly is a student ambassador? Well, for those of you who don't know, it's one of the most important jobs on campus a student has both the honor and privilege to apply for at some point during their college career.
(No, we're not just tour guides)
Those of you out there who are student ambassadors can probably back me up and relate to the statement that this is isn't just a job. A student ambassador is one of the most vital aspects of helping a graduating high school senior choose the college of their dream, thus shaping the rest of their entire future. I know, we're a pretty big deal. But along with this job comes a whole other side of stress. Within our daily lives of meeting perspective students not only across the country but from around the world, we face some pretty bizarre moments. Yes, of course, we love what we do, but there is a time or two where we often question when we're ever going to get off the struggle bus. These are just a few of those times:
20. Memorizing the Tour Script
When you get your Bible-sized tour script, you can't wrap your brain over the fact that you need to memorize almost every page
19. Your very first tour by yourself
It's all fun and games until the day where you're on your own. For the first time, you don't have another experienced ambassador with you, thus leading to all types of pressure because all eyes and ears are on you.
18. Trying to Explain Things to Parents
There are times where parents don't understand anything you're saying, no matter how hard you try to explain something about your school.
17. When you state the wrong fact on tour
There are times where you may be a little iffy on a certain fact on your school, until someone calls you out on it. You try to save yourself, but it's already too late.
16. Everything you own is college apparel
Being a student ambassador, it's required to wear your school's apparel in order to represent your college or university. Before you know it, your entire bank account goes to buying college apparel and it's the only wardrobe you have.
15. Trying to keep your cool
If you're an awkward human like me, it's SO hard to keep your cool on tours.
14. But you have an embarrassing moment instead
Unfortunately, you can't fight the inevitable and something embarrassing is bound to happen to you on tour in front of all the perspective students and their families.
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13. Tour Interruptions
No matter the day, something or someone has to do something to interrupt your tour. Whether it's battling conversations with construction or traffic noise, or ignoring students yelling obnoxious things at you and your tour group, you definitely don't have time for that.
12. Walking in on something inappropriate
Okay, so this doesn't happen all the time, but it definitely happens. You either walk through a dorm hallway and a student drops their towel after showering, or you witness an awkward walk of shame, you do whatever it takes get your group the hell out of there.
11. People stealing food from dining halls
I will never understand why people do this, but every time you show a group a dining hall on campus, they seem to think it's like a "help yourself" type of situation. Especially dads. No. This is not a thing, please stop.
10. Losing Your Voice
Of course you're going to lose your voice, all you do is yell all day during an ambassador shift because you're trying to make sure that everyone in your tour group can hear you loud and clear. Sadly, you end up walking around a week later as a mime as a result.
9. Faking a Smile
Not every day is a good one, and often times you just have to stick it out and smile through all the chaos.
8. Being Extra Happy
Remember, you're representing your school, so being friendly and happy is not an option, even though some people may think you're a little crazy for being overly peppy.
7. When people leave your tour
There are times when families will leave your tour and you can't help but take it personally, especially when you think your tour was going so well.
6. Talkative Parents
On every tour you give, there is always going to be that one parent who keeps asking you questions about things you haven't even covered yet! Those are the worst to deal with.
5. The Party Scene Question
This is something that you need to be careful with as a tour guide. Perspective students always want to know about what the party scene is like on campus. As a tour guide, you cannot answer that type of question in front of an entire tour group. However, there are ways to get around it enough where the student should be able to get the hint.
4. Parent/Child Arguments
Often times, a parent and their child are arguing about the school due to conflicting desires about what each party is looking for in a college. Just smile through the tension and carry on.
3. It's exhausting
Pretty much the most accurate description of how you feel after a full day on your feet, giving multiple tours around campus.
2. Giving tours to students who were denied
This is a rare occasion, but it does happen. Regardless, it's probably one of the most awkward things to ever experience as a tour guide. And if you're extremely unlucky, that student will be there with their best friend who got accepted and they think they're going there too, so they start planning out their entire future at the same school. Meanwhile, they weren't even accepted. YIKES.
1. Open House Events
Open Houses scream S.O.S. There are so many families and students that you need all the help you could get. Needless to say, this completely overwhelming, but no worries, you aren't in this alone.
Even though these are some struggles, being a student ambassador is something that is extremely worthwhile. In the end, having a passion in your school will make a difference for someone. Through all the stress and chaos comes the heart of knowing that you truly are changing someone else's life because you're paving the path to a person's entire future and that is something that you should take so much pride in.
