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The classroom
by Steve Howard As students walk off college auditorium stages with degrees securely in hand, the enthusiasm of escaping the classroom after umpteen years of sitting at a desk can quickly turn to panic. It dawns on the student they now have to earn an independent living in the "real'' world. Although the classroom lays a solid and necessary foundation for successful life in the field, the first year in a recreation agency will expose more practical knowledge to the fledgling leisure professional than in any year of schooling. No article will completely cure the awkwardness of the first year, but the following suggestions could go a long ways in preventing inaugural professional life from becoming a bad experience, and all good students know what an ounce of prevention is worth. Patience The new professional's desire when moving into the first job environment is to move with a full head of steam. The mind is bursting with ideas that have been tried with success in the classroom but never applied to real life situations. The fresh employee often looks to present bold and sweeping ideas. Unless the community or agency is a disaster area, people will resist change. The political, economic, and social authorities of a community or agency will usually be the old guard, residents who have lived in the area for a number of years and have grown content or even complacent. Such residents usually prefer stable and conservative ideas that will serve to maintain rather than change. Their resistance and sometimes close-mindedness to new ideas can lead to frustration for the new employee, who should strike a balance between the resident's experience and wisdom and the employee's new ideas and energy. Change will always be constant, but the new professional must sometimes wait and present new ideas when the time is right. Involvement Communities will always have several types of organizations, ranging from tightly run school districts to loose and informal gardening clubs. During the first year, the new professional should find out about the various associations and get involved. A good leisure professional develops contacts with groups such as school districts, social clubs, sports organizations, and other recreation agencies. Many professional associations are also available at the national, state, and local levels. Involvement in other agencies greatly increases the base of resources available to the rookie leisure specialist. Listening The first year is a good year to listen to what others have to say. Although it is eminent to always be heard and ask questions when they arise, one of the best ways to get the feel of a community and address its leisure needs is to listen to what the locale has to say. Mistakes will happen and the first-year professional will make them while venturing out into the unchartered territory of the "real" world, which is so unlike the ideal classroom settings students have been accustomed to for two-thirds of their lives. Attempting to cover up mistakes would be frivolous, but acknowledging blunders and learning how to prevent them is one of the greatest learning experiences. Both the wise man and fool make mistakes. What separates the two is that the fool makes the same mistake twice while the wise man never repeats his folly. Open Mindedness A new professional environment will expose the leisure whiz kid to a vast array of new activities and events. Personal tastes sometimes have to be sacrificed to satisfy the wants and needs of the population. For example, a college graduate from Florida may believe winter sports like skiing and ice skating are dull and hazardous. If the graduate takes a job in a northern community that enjoys its skiing and skating, the graduates' attitude has to bend. In fact, the alumnus may even want to learn the activities to gain an understanding about what makes them enjoyable. Closing the mind to new ideas is like trying to read a closed book. Open the book, however, and it is surprising what can be experienced. Confidence The initial year is an easy time to get discouraged and question the self's ability to manage leisure services and facilities. Sometimes the first job out of college can make a person feel like they are running through an obstacle course in the dark - a lot of falling down can occur, bruising the ego and self-determination of the individual. Remember, no one chooses recreation for its great salaries but chooses it because they enjoy the field and are good at it, so have faith because no one can believe in someone unless that someone believes in himself. Pacing In all of the aforementioned pointers, pacing is the key. The ability to know when to assume new responsibilities, when to address certain issues, and when to relax and wait is paramount. Unfortunately, no class can effectively teach such a skill. It has to be learned in the field, but take a pointer from the marathon runner. The person who wins does not sprint from beginning to end but rather sets a comfortable pace, saving a reserve of energy for a burst of speed, or final kick, near the finish line. Learn how to pace everyday in the work place and save that final kick when needed. That way, the new professional will start and finish a winner.
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