As many of you already know, I work at Lake Area Tech as the Student Activities Coordinator. Some weeks are busier than others, and this week was a bit quieter – especially with a snow day on Friday! Earlier in the week, we had a NET team meeting. If you’re unaware, the NET is essentially all the people who provide student services for current students, such as counseling, activities, the library, etc.

Anyway, in the meeting, we discussed what our goals for this semester would be. I told everyone my goal and one person in the group said, “Megan, I don’t want you to feel like the odd man out in this group. Like you JUST do activities.”

At the time, I was thinking, “Well heck, I wasn’t thinking that before, but I am now!” And for a split second my defenses went up. Then that person said, “you do so much more than just putting on fun activities for students, and I don’t think you’ve fully grasped that yet.” I let my defenses down and sat back and listened. They went on about how activities give the students that much needed break from class and course work, and it gives them a safe outlet to have fun, and I’m the person who provides that for them. That if it wasn’t for my role, they wouldn’t have that outlet, and the chances of some going off and getting into trouble could potentially be much higher.

I dwelled on that for several days after that meeting. Not only did those words make me feel great about the kind of work I do, but it also made me realize that I have had a bad habit of degrading the work I do now, and have done in the past. Thinking about how I describe my job to others who ask, I always say “I just plan the fun stuff,” when in reality, it is more than that. I even remember in past jobs, like when I was an administrative assistant at the Department of Energy, it was the same way. “I’m only a secretary,” would be what I tell people. When in reality, secretaries and admin assistants are very busy people, and an office wouldn’t be able to operate without them.

I know I’m not the only one out there who has had thoughts like this before, so it got me to thinking: why do we degrade the work that we do? It doesn’t matter if you’re the janitor, the CEO, or anything in between. Each position plays a vital role in how a company is run and operated. Sure, on the outside it may seem like some roles play a bigger part, but what happens if you take away someone like a secretary or a custodian? The business feels that impact. Every job is important, no matter how small it may seem.

I’m going to make a pledge to myself starting today, that I will think more positively about my role – the one I have now, ones I’ve had in the past, or any roles I will have in the future. If I go around acting and feeling like what I do isn’t important, then that’s ultimately how I’m going to feel all the time. And I don’t want that! I encourage you all to do the same. Make a habit of reminding yourself that what you do is important – especially on the days where you feel anything but. Your business couldn’t do what they do without you!

Until next time! 🙂

Megan Reiffenberger