In the three years, I have spent at Wilkes University, I have been fortunate enough to work in our admissions office. I have been afforded countless opportunities that have allowed me to grow not only as a worker, but also as a person. My freshman year I had been introduced to mentors that have shown me how everything in the office works. I had been trained on phone calls, tours, and prospective student data entry. Now I am one of the lead ambassadors that helps to train other work study students for all of these tasks. It isn’t always an easy job, but it is incredibly rewarding. I have made so many memories along the way. I love working for my admissions office, and these are just a few things I have learned that will hopefully encourage others to work in their offices as well.
1. Teamwork.
Being a student ambassador means working with all different kinds of people and personalities. It is essential that you work as a team. If you are a group of students who just do not get along, goals will never get accomplished. Being an ambassador is the kind of job where you look beyond differences in attitudes, personalities, and beliefs. Work hard to remain profession and try to be friends with your colleagues. After all, you are all there for the same reason.
2. Have Patience.
Along with working with different people who you may or may not be familiar with, you will be meeting with countless prospective students and their families. There will be times where you will be meeting with a family that shares a different set of beliefs than you, and that is totally okay! It’s always fun to meet new people and share experiences. Do not let your views get in the way of what matters here: selling your school. You already know how much fun your school is, it’s up to you to convince others that this is true. For many parents, this may be the first time they are sending their child to school so they will have thousands of questions to ask. Let them. These visits are not just for the kids.
3. Walking backward.
Personally, my school is trying to steer away from walking backward as many families do get concerned that their tour guide will trip and fall. Admittedly, it has happened to me before during open houses, so their concern is understandable. However, before we changed our tours a little bit, I became pretty talented with walking blindly while facing families. There are spots on our campus that I know exactly how to step or turn to avoid a collision or a trip while walking backward. I consider this a talent, and I am sure that countless others feel the same way.
4. Be kind and always wear your happy face.
As a student ambassador, you are the closest that prospective students tend to get to college life. You know everything about local restaurants, activities done on and around campus, and the best places to study. Set a good first impression. Sure it may be ten degrees outside during your tour, but a family just came out of their way just to see you, make it worth their time. Answer their questions with honesty and stay polite, hold open doors, offer to walk them places like the bookstore or back to where they had parked. Families take in a lot during a visit between counselor meetings, campus tours, meetings with coaches and faculty, but of all things your small gestures will not go unnoticed.
5. Love what you do.
Being a student ambassador is not for everyone. It takes a special kind of enthusiasm to get through busy days such as open houses. This job is for friendly people that love being around others and are always willing to help. Things can be stressful, the past two weeks have been difficult for myself and another girl that I work with as we were the only ambassadors in the office. I gave four tours in one day, and it was exhausting, but that doesn’t matter. I love what I do, so although it can be stressful, I have always been worth it for me. I love seeing the smiles on families faces as they depart from my tours, I love sitting in the backroom with my friends getting ready for open house, and I love the things I have learned as a student ambassador.
