Martin A.

Gahbauer
Professional Reflection

Professional Reflection
I am a relative late arrival to the world of Higher Education in general and Loyola University Chicago more specifically. It is a profession that I have actively sought out and chosen after a successful career in advertising. Importantly, Higher Education is a profession in which I can see myself growing and applying myself for years to come. My journey to this profession began many years ago when I read these words: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle Ian MacLaren. Interestingly, I have no recollection of where I had originally read those words. I just remember my initial reaction. It was visceral. Those words cut through my frenzied day of deadlines and appointments like a clarion call and rang deeply in me like only one thing can. The truth. When faced with writing my reflection on Loyolas mission and what it means to me, those words rose to the fore. Why? Upon consideration, I believe they capture my feelings toward social justice and by extension, education. Inherent in be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle is the philosophy that everyone should be treated equally and fairly. Every person deserves tolerance, respect and ultimately, kindness as they make their journey. The words also call for action. That one has to, and indeed must, have empathy for others - to appreciate what they are going through in their lives and to respond understandingly.

Professional Reflection
Perhaps being the son of blue collar immigrant parents has made me attuned to this philosophy. Growing up, there were periods in my life where I had to struggle to fit in. My parents worked and saved to move to the suburbs so that we could have a better life and education. The move proved to be one of the most challenging periods of my life. I was in the fifth grade. Suddenly, I was in a totally new place with no friends. Worse, I had to fight to protect myself from those who did not want me there. I truly felt alone. Those difficult times made me appreciate what it feels like to be an outsider. Its also a lesson that was reinforced as a teenager while at Loyola Academy. As part of our Jesuit education, we were asked to attend a Kairos retreat. While there, an exercise required us to divulge some deep, personal information. I was taken aback when many of the kids who seemed like they had it all - popularity, captains of various sports teams, great car, and beautiful homes in top shelf neighborhoods - were truly sad, lost souls. They were missing the most important thing in life - the love and attention of their parents. While I had not yet read or learned of the Be Kind words at that point in my life, I learned their lesson . If the Be Kind philosophy is a cornerstone of social justice, then education to me is another. Education feeds the mind and frees the soul. The act of learning allows human beings to soar to their higher purpose. It empowers a person to be open to new and compelling thoughts, constructs and possibilities. It encourages individuals to actively seek out and understand that which they do not know. These are key tenets needed for social justice to take root and grow.

Professional Reflection
For all the reasons discussed above, I am attracted to higher education. For more than twenty years, I pursued my profession in advertising. It was a career that brought many wonderful experiences. However as time went on, I began to feel something was missing and found myself wanting to use my skills and abilities to contribute to a greater good. Maybe it was also that my mother always had said, education is something no one can ever take away from you. In any case, as I went into career transition, I actively targeted a position in higher education. As I am want to do, I sought out as many people as possible to get a better understanding of where someone with my skills might fit in a university setting. I conducted over 100 informational interviews with individuals employed in different capacities at universities throughout Chicagoland. The more and more I learned, the more I knew that a university, and specifically career services, was the right place for me. I appreciated the culture of knowledge and learning at a university. I valued the mission of empowering students to identify and implement their personal and professional goals within career services. And more specific to Loyola, the Jesuit approach to learning and social justice was welcome because of my previous experience at Loyola Academy. Fortunately, the Career Development Center took a risk on hiring me. The past four years have provided an incredible opportunity to bring the vision of my new future to life. I not only have learned how best to apply my skills and abilities in my role of Employer Relations. But, I have also expanded my knowledge of higher education by attaining a Masters degree in Higher Education through Loyola University Chicago.

Professional Reflection
The net of these learning experiences help me to bring a unique perspective and skill set to bear on advancing Loyolas mission through my position. As I see it, the goal and outcome of my work is to provide opportunities which better help and prepare students for the journey of their career. For example, the experience and learning gained from attending a career fair or job shadow program help a student either land the position they had been hoping for or learn more about a company or industry of interest. When I receive feedback from a student about the positive impact that a job shadow has had on their life or when an employer has kind and positive words to say about a student which they hired, I know Ive done my job. Perhaps more importantly, I feel a deep sense of gratitude, knowing that Ive helped someone on their way. I guess, in the end, it really does come back to those words. Be kind, for everyone you meet is in a hard battle. Being kind isnt always easy. Or convenient. But it has the potential to change everything.