From Dining to Admissions, “What did I get myself into?”

I could feel the butterflies multiplying in my stomach the morning of my first day at my brand new job. I had no idea what to expect and the mystery of it all just overwhelmed me. As I walked into the Admissions building on Triad Day of this semester I reconsidered just going back to Dining Services, to where I feel comfortable. I walked into the conference room where the rest of the crew was already sitting, already thinking that I should have come early. Everyone in the room had a wide smile across their face and were at ease, for they were already friends. Thankfully, work that day was cut short for Triad Day, giving me another day to compose myself before I delved deep into “God only knows what.”

Over the next few days I started to get the hang of what it meant to be on Admissions Crew. I even got a nickname within two hours of being with my new crew family. I was told that if I ever had a question that I should just ask anyone… and I do. Everyone was more than happy to answer all my questions about whether “I should recycle that” or “what exactly goes in the infamous GenPac?” By having to ask so many questions I feel more and more comfortable with office life.

I do have to admit to the fact that once I knew what my job entailed, I was terrified of the phone. Answering it, looking at it, listening to it ring, all these miniscule actions that had never worried me before, grew large. However after avoiding getting near one of the two phones for over a week in fear of having to answer it, I did one morning. I may have had verbal dyslexia the entire time and didn’t know the answer, but I felt so happy that I had picked up that inanimate object. After that I was just so ecstatic and now I will gladly sit next to one of the phones and answer it. The phone is no problem of mine any longer!

Having devoted my first semester at Wilson to Gladfelter, office jobs are much different. I no longer have to pick out cake batter from my hair or worry about wearing black and turning my shirt white with flour. My hands stay clean (I suppose except for what germs made it to the phone handle) and I actually know everyone by name. I feel I did my freshman duty by working on Dining, but now I am off to Admissions.

The point of my blurb about my first week on a new crew is that a little nerves are okay. However, time will cure anything and even widen your own comfort zone. The Warren Wilson Work Program is an amazing opportunity to learn new skills and overcome new fears. I am very grateful for the chance to be a part of the Admissions Crew. Now I need to stop writing for the phone just rang… and I am comfortably sitting closest to the ringing box connected to the wall.

Andrea