NACAC conference

Last week I traveled to Baltimore for a whirlwind couple of days at the national conference for the National Association of College Admission Counselors. This was my first time attending the national conference; it is quite expensive so every year different people go. This year Suzanne and Maureen also attended. Suz has been many times, as she is on the board for Colleges that Change Lives, and has a number of responsibilities during the conference. Maureen was a fellow first-time attendee, so it was nice to have a partner in navigating everything for the first time.

I am good at talking to people that I don't know, but in order to be comfortable doing so, I like to have a little structure around the conversation (admission interview, registration table, classroom discussion, etc). Wandering around a room with a drink in my hand and being told to "mingle and network" is not my cup of tea. So a conference of 5,000 people who are all there to "mingle and network" was a bit overwhelming for me. I know a lot of people in my field, both on the admission and the high school sides, from my years working in admission, but I don't typically hang out with them outside of the context of a high school visit, college fair or parent program. So I was a bit tense for the entire time, which was compounded by the fact that only one of the sessions I attended really applied directly to my job as an admission counselor at a small college. I really don't like feeling like I'm wasting time and money away from home and the office when there are a lot of productive (and more cost effective) things that I need to do with my family and my job.

Both evenings we went to networking events, which were still a little bit awkward for me, but in very cool locations, which made it more fun. I also got to see Andy, Laura and John (former co-workers) and catch up on their lives.

A big pile of freshly caught and freshly cooked crabs at networking event #1. Delicious!


Suz and Maureen posing with their dinner.


Yum!


Networking event #2 was at the Baltimore aquarium--what a neat place! We had full access to the jellyfish and dolphin exhibits. I had to take some pictures of the jellyfish. They are such interesting and alien creatures.