YOU ARE THERE – A TRIBUTE TO STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS
By Dr. Jeremy Schenk
From the first wide-eyed steps at orientation; To the triumphant walk across the graduation stage …
You are there.
In the laughter of campus comedians; The music of open mic nights; In the quiet wisdom of campus lectures …
You are there.
In the residence halls, where strangers become friends; In the dining halls, where conversations over meals build community; In every space designed not just for living, but for connection …
You are there.
In the quiet offices where hard conversations happen; Counseling appointments where fears are spoken aloud; Doctor visits where care and healing begin; Accommodation meetings where barriers are lifted; Ensuring every student has a chance to thrive …
You are there.
From roommate conflicts that teach compromise; To drunken parties that turn into lessons learned; To late-night transports where safety comes first; You stand beside students in their messiest moments; Guiding, supporting, and never turning away …
You are there.
In fraternity and sorority houses filled with tradition; Where bonds are built, values are tested; Where leadership is shaped and responsibility is learned; In moments of celebration and moments of challenge …
You are there.
In career centers where futures take shape; Reviewing résumés, coaching for interviews; Calming fears about the unknown; Connecting passion with purpose; Helping students believe in what they can become …
You are there.
In student centers, the heartbeats of campus life; Where identities are explored and friendships are formed; In the creation of physical spaces that foster connection, comfort, and change …
You are there.
In moments of active dialogue; When voices rise in protest and passion; When difficult conversations demand courage; When free speech and community intersect; Helping students listen, engage, and grow …
You are there.
In the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; Where students find their voices and their stories matter; Where difference is celebrated and justice is pursued; Where barriers are broken and new paths are forged; You create spaces where all students feel seen; Where belonging isn’t a goal, it’s a promise …
You are there.
In servant leadership; Where students discover their strengths and embrace their impact; Where service meets learning and action meets reflection; Where tomorrow’s leaders are shaped by today’s experiences; You empower them to lead with integrity; To serve with purpose and to build communities that uplift and inspire …
You are there.
Through moments of accountability; Guiding with care, shaping with purpose; Turning missteps into lessons …
You are there.
When joy fills the air; A championship won and a milestone reached; A cause championed and a dream realized …
You are there.
When stress bears down; Exams, uncertainty, the weight of the world; You listen, you uplift, you remind them they are enough …
You are there.
And in the hardest and darkest of moments; When a life is lost and a campus cries in mourning; When grief weighs heavy and words fail …
You are still there.
The unspoken heroes of higher education; The architects of the student experience; The champions of belonging; The teachers of life …
You are always there.
Not for the spotlight, not for the recognition; Not for the paycheck or the prestige; But for the belief that every student matters; That every story is worth hearing; That every challenge holds a lesson; That every life touched is a life changed. Because Student Affairs isn’t just a job, it’s a beautiful calling …
Student Affairs – You are always there.