8 Things I Love About Being a Tour Guide

1. Getting to share my university experience.

I love my university with all of my heart. I have a "wow, this is truly where I am meant to be" moment at least once a week and if I can help other people find that place for them at my school then that makes my heart happy.

2. Having awesome coworkers.

Most of the time, it doesn't even feel like we're working because we all love what we're doing and we all like being around each other.

3. Feeling smart and "in the know."

A huge part of our job as tour guides is being able to answer any question that a prospective student or parent might ask. During training, we learned just about everything there is to learn about the university including history, upcoming projects, and all of the little fun facts that make my university unique.

4. Getting to meet new people.

There aren't very many jobs where you get the chance to meet new people every time that you clock into work and there are even fewer jobs where you get the chance to share something that you love (like your school) with those people. Every single time I work a shift, I get to meet new people, share my university with them and hopefully give them a glimpse of what life at my university looks like.

5. Helping students make an important decision.

Picking a university is hard. There are so many to choose from and it can be overwhelming for prospective students. It's also one of the most exciting things EVER! To have any part in possibly helping a student make that decision is so rewarding.

6. My university trusts me.

The university puts a lot of trust in their tour guides. They have to trust that we can stay cool under pressure, answer any question with poise and professionalism, and do it all with a smile on our faces at all times. It's cool to know that someone thought that I was a good candidate to represent the university.

7. The learning experiences.

Being a tour guide teaches you how to handle stress, how to say "I don't know the answer to your question but I can direct you to someone who does," how to handle any curve ball that could possibly be thrown your way and how to do it all with good composure. Those are skills that I would have never learned in a classroom.

8. The positive feedback.

It's the end of a long day as a tour guide. You've talked to countless people, you're exhausted and you're ready for a shower because it was about a thousand degrees outside that day. All of the families are leaving and a mom comes up to you and says, "thank you so much, you were an excellent tour guide. You answered all of our questions, I think this is where my child belongs and he/she thinks so too." I'll tell you what, there is nothing better than comments like that.