JCSC Life:
Judy as a JCSC: When people ask me what I do as a JCSC, I tell them that I am the "chief schmoozer" for Hillel. And really, that is exactly what my job entails. My day if filled with social and personal interactions with students whether it be through coffee dates, shorts chats in Mary Graydon center (main student center), the quad or in the Hillel office. My experience as a JCSC fellow is part-therapist, part-big sister and part-organizer. I talk with students when they're sad, upset, happy, confused, lonely and excited. I hear stories about thir families and friends and personal lives. I lend an ear and a shoulder and most of the time, the students appreciate and accept my offer.
By helping these students to feel more comfortable on campus, they will be more likely to get involved in campus life. So the various aspects of the JCSC fellowship work towards a larger goal of student activism and involvement. By making the student feel good, they want to give back to the campus to hopefully enrich the college experience of others.
JCSC @ AU: Being a JCSC @ American University is a hands-on, down and dirty, 24 hour a day job. Our Hillel is a "no frills" experience but we're full of energy and creativity. The student leadership base is small but enthusiastic and the staff is very supportive. While I spend most of the time engaging students i.e. having coffee, tabling, lunch-dates, brainstorming program ideas, I also spend a decent amount of time helping out with the general workings of the AU Hillel. I assist in planning Shabbat meals, holiday programs, and office acitivities. Plus, I carpool the Shabbat meals from KosherMart every Friday morning..no wonder my car smells like baked chicken and raisin kugel!
The best part about working in a smaller operation is that the staff has given me an incredible amount of creative license and responsibility. My programming always is well-recognized and the staff always makes an effort to promote and attend many of my programs.
Another great thing about working @ AU Hillel is that our office is housed in an interfaith center. We have an office space in a building that also houses Muslims, Buddists, Methodists, Catholics, Baptists etc. Having access to clergy of several different backgrounds has given me the chance to learn about the rituals, holidays and beliefs of the different faiths. It has also given me the chance to discuss different viewpoints on social issues and religious devotion.
JCSC Fellowship: Being a part of the JCSC Fellowship is an incredible experience. As fellows, we are provided with a network of passionate, creative and dynamic individuals. From the beginning of our professional expereince we have people to learn from and gain advice. While I never had the opportunity to know all the fellows well, I definately appreciated the advice I got from the listserv and I enjoyed hearing about the accomplishments of my peers. I found the JCSC listserv to be a great (albeit overused) space in which to share ideas and gain personal and programmatic recognition.
JCSC as part of the International Center: Because AU is located in Washington, our students and staff constantly have opportunities for contact with the Schusterman International Center. As a JCSC Fellow, i have the opportunity to meet and socialize with the International Fellows and other SIC staff. I have to admit, I definately did not utilize the international center as much as I should have but I was grateful to have them close by when I needed them.
