Aj Schwanz

CollegeAj: Hi, Registrar Person. I’d like to change a class.
FrontOfficePerson: You must wait in this line until an available clerk can see you.
CollegeAj: How long will that be?
FrontOfficePerson: About two hours.
CollegeAj: But the class I’d like to take starts in an hour and a half.
FrontOfficePerson: Well, you can’t attend that class until you’re registered.
CollegeAj: But you can’t get me registered before it starts.
FrontOfficePerson: That is correct.
CollegeAj: Do you see a problem with that?
FrontOfficePerson: No.
CollegeAj: Hmmm.

Two hours later.

RegistrarClerk: I can see you now.
CollegeAj: Yes, I’d like to take this class.
RegistrarClerk: You have a Student Accounts flag.
CollegeAj: What does that mean?
RegistrarClerk: You’ll have to ask them.

Another long line.

StudentAccountsClerk: I can help you now.
CollegeAj: I have a flag.
StudentAccountsClerk: Oh, I can’t help you: I only help out folks with last names M-S.
CollegeAj: Hmmm.

Waiting.

StudentAccountsClerk: I can help you.
CollegeAj: Can you?
StudentAccountsClerk: Yes, your last name falls within the acceptable parameters.
CollegeAj: Oh, good: wouldn’t want to fall outside of the parameters. I have a flag.
StudentAccountsClerk: You have $10.00 that needs to be paid on your account.
CollegeAj: Why?
StudentAccountsClerk: For this class.
CollegeAj: I dropped that class a while ago.
StudentAccountsClerk: It’s not showing up.
CollegeAj: It’s dropped.
StudentAccountsClerk: You’ll need to see the Registrar’s Office.
CollegeAj: I was there. They sent me here.
Together: Hmmmm.

RegistrarClerk: I can help you.
CollegeAj: Like a root canal?
RegistrarClerk: Potentially.
CollegeAj: Student Accounts said I owe them money for a class I dropped. Please make the class go away.
RegistrarClerk: Normally you have to get a signature.
CollegeAj: I did.
RegistrarClerk: Where is it?
CollegeAj: I gave it to you a while ago.
RegistrarClerk: Doubtful.
CollegeAj: Well, because I’m disorganized, I still have the carbon copy in my bag. See. Signature.
RegistrarClerk: I suppose that’s acceptable.
CollegeAj: Hmmm.
RegistarClerk: Next person!
CollegeAj: No, I’m not done! I need to change a class.
RegistrarClerk: You need your advisor’s signature.
CollegeAj: They said you needed to tell me if it was still open.
RegistrarClerk: It is.
CollegeAj: Hmmmm.

Two hours later after tracking prof across campus and classrooms and hill and dale and then waiting in the Registrar Line for an hour.

RegistrarClerk: I can see you now.
CollegeAj: I got my supervisor’s signature.
RegistrarClerk: Well, since the class has officially started, you need the prof’s signature as well.
CollegeAj: But when I was here, it hadn’t started.
RegistrarClerk: A class has passed since you were here. You need their signature.
CollegeAj: Hmmmm.

Two hours later after waiting on the prof who was teaching a class which was better than leaving the form with the prof’s assistant meaning it may never get signed. Returning to the Registrar Office and waiting in a smaller line (the line dwindled as students’ hopes were slowly worn away that their schedules were etched in anything other than stone).

RegistrarClerk: I can help you now.
CollegeAj: I don’t know about that. You said that last time. Help, I have not found; a more toned butt, I have.
RegistrarClerk: I have no ability to laugh - it has been absorbed into our cumbersome, antique computer system.
CollegeAj: Oy. Here is your form. I’d like to change my class.
RegistrarClerk: That class is full.
CollegeAj: No, it’s not. I’ve been getting signatures to take it just like you told me.
RegistrarClerk: It’s filled up since you were here. You’ll have to wait until someone drops or the prof approves an overflow, which rarely happens.
CollegeAj: I think that computer has sucked away your tendency towards kindness and compassion as well.
RegistrarClerk: Could be.

In college, this was a situation experienced by many students. MANY students. Instead of learning educational, edifying subjects, we learned that offices are bad, paperwork is worse, and that we might be doomed to run around the clocktower for life. As a freshman, I didn’t know how to avoid the Paperwork Gauntlett; but fortunately, I found some compassionate, experienced seniors who taught me how to navigate the obstacle course, and soon I could fly through a schedule change with no problem. In fact, my schedule was never nailed down until a week after school started, and I still got into all the classes I wanted/needed. Tricks are a good thing.

I don’t know that I ever figured out humility, respect, dedication, or direction in my education, but I did figure out “the system.” One summer I worked for the Vice President of Enrollment Services, and I got to know a slew of employees in Student Services roles: registrar, financial aid, student accounts, admissions, etc. The system was a bit wonky, for students as well as employees, but a few key employees could make it so easy for students to get what they needed.

One day I saw a set of folks walking around with a dazed look on their faces. “Can I help you?” “Well, we’re trying to register for classes and get this account taken care of, but we don’t know where to go . . .” “Oh, well, go to this building, ask for this certain person who will get you your classes fast. They’ll get you a great advisor. Then go to this room and ask for this person who will get your account taken care of; they may be on break, so say you’ll wait until they return: it’s totally worth it, otherwise you may be here until your next child is ready for enrollment.” I saw them later that day, happily walking to their car. “Hey, thanks so much for your help! It was so easy after we talked to you!”

Man, that was a great day in my college experience: not a speaker or subject, but knowing that I helped someone get through the gauntlet so they could get on with the important stuff - learning, being part of a community, etc.

I realized I really liked being an advocate. Just like other friends helped me, I loved being able to share with others how to navigate the waters of the culture/experience and skip out on the potential two-day process of simply trying to change a class from morning to afternoon.

Do you remember a time when you were advocated for? Who was it? When are you an advocate for others?