April Showered with Beautiful Surprises

Last month was crazy, beautiful.  Let me explain.  April 24^th was Administrative Professional’s Day.  It also happened to be my birthday.  These occurrences don’t always fall on the same day of the year, but this year they did.  I was showered with gifts showing various forms of encouragement and praise.

Whether it was the balloons and gift cards that the AT faculty members gave me, or the nice, small flower arrangement from a student, or being treated to lunch out with the other administrative assistants from the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at a restaurant named Plush, I felt like a queen.   

But what was probably the best part of the day came when I arrived back at the office after lunch.  I entered the office to see a large piece of poster board lying on my desk.  It said “Happy Administrative Professional’s Day” in colorful lettering and was signed—often with a personal message—by each of the students in the professional phase of the program.  I really did have to wipe a few tears from my eyes.

Jennifer Baine pictured with SLU AT students Cat Costello and Emily Grace with the "big  check" from the Bowl-a-thon.  Jennifer was instrumental in the Bowl-a-thon's success!

We administrative assistants take ownership of our programs.  This includes taking ownership of the students.  Those are “my” students who did that for me.   I may not be their instructor.  I may not be their academic advisor.   I may not be their faculty mentor, but those are my kids.  I know that no twenty-ish year old wants to be called a kid.   

Nevertheless, they are my kids.  And I am proud of each of them!  

"News From the Front Desk" by Jennifer Baine is a regular column that features a look inside the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program.  Jennifer greets all of the program's visitors and works with the faculty to make sure our students have the best possible experience.