What to write about?

All the latest articles and professional development reading I have been doing lately have told me that I need to start a blog. I have been fairly sure that is a terrible idea.

Don't get me wrong, I take tons of other advice from these articles. It is how I plan assessment, and programming. Sharing with others is how I create staff meetings to make sense and help students grow.

 I have embraced (with a critical eye of course) much of what I find through twitter, blogs, journals and all other electronic and print ways of sharing. However, I was very sure I had little to add to the conversation. If you know me, you know how much I love to talk.  I felt on the internet maybe my best choice was to practice consuming, and listening rather than producing. I think there is a lot of value in using the resources I find online as a professional development tool and way to continue to learn and grow.

The nagging issue I have run into the last few days though centers on hypocrisy, I hate being a hypocrite.

I run an all female residence hall at a small liberal arts university in the pacific northwest. The theme of the hall is Women's Empowerment and Gender Equity- something I am passionate about. I have recently been talking to students about not apologizing before they say an idea. You have all heard them, "This might be crazy but what if we . . ." or worse "This is probably a bad idea but . . ."- It has been a struggle for many of the women, but I am seeing the benefits of them accepting that they have something worthy to offer and that they can and should speak up, accepting their ideas are of value.

note: I highly recommend Peggy McIntosh's article Feeling Like A Fraud if you are interested in more research and information about woman leaders (and leaders in general) apologizing for what they know and think. 

Later in the day, I read another article highlighting how professionals should have a blog, to share ideas, to reflect, to be thoughtful and productive learners. I caught myself thinking again - nope not for me- and then I stopped. Why not? Do I really not have something to write about? Can I tell students to share their voice, ideas and thoughts if I am unwilling to do the same thing? Cue uncomfortable 'oh crap' feeling.

After a few days of consideration, and many rounds of fun recognition events, gifts, notes and starting to plan for next years programming I realized I do have something I want to blog about - Creativity in Student Affairs.

I love to be creative is all aspects of my life, and I find that I thrive in my work when I am able to infuse creative pieces into everyday aspects of the job.  I never realized how much I did until my supervisor commented on how much she appreciated my creativity and then I noticed my peers jump on board with ideas I originally apologized for saying out loud. Yep, I struggle with that issue as well.

I try never to ask students to do something I would be unwilling to do, here's to following through and being an authentic professional! :)