DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is strictly for entertainment purpose. The opinions in no way reflect the opinions of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences. Laughing, giggling, smiling, chuckling and snickering are highly encouraged.
A little under a year ago, I sprinted into the conference room of Patterson Office Tower about 5 minutes late for an interview for the position of Student Ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences (which I had foolishly scheduled directly after class). I must admit that at this point I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into due to my own failure to properly research the position. All I knew about Student Ambassadors was that they went to Preview Nights and told college-bound high school students about UK, which is something I wanted to be a part of. While this is indeed one aspect of the position, I couldn’t have imagined how many opportunities I would have to shape the experience of prospective (and current) students and their families. Through this position, I’ve really made a tangible impact on countless students and families—that’s what has made this position one of the most rewarding and important experiences of my college career.
Preview Nights, as I’ve mentioned, are probably what you think when you hear “student ambassador.” And yes, Preview Nights are a very important way for us to meet and connect with prospective students. We have the opportunity to go to cities all over the state and even the country to talk about what we love about UK and provide answers to all sorts of questions. I was pretty nervous before my first preview night, but that quickly disappeared as I realized most students genuinely cared about what I had to say and I was really helping them decide on their major, their living arrangements, and sometimes even their college decision. But Ambassadors do more than just preview nights. We also guide and accompany prospective students through tours of parts of campus such as the Jacobs Science Building. Working with these students was especially rewarding for me because they often have career plans similar to my own, and I can share my experiences with them.
Ambassadors are not limited to working with prospective students. We also have opportunities to help orchestrate events for current students such as Dean’s List celebrations and K Week events. We also work together on group projects to come up with ways to make UK even better. We have previously worked to increase college student voter turnout and are now working on ways to help international students become acclimated to campus life. This isn’t just busywork, either; our ideas are often actually implemented.
Being an Ambassador has given me opportunities to shape the experience of countless prospective students as well as current students. No other position I’ve held has given me this kind of influence and insight. That’s what makes being a Student Ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences one of the most rewarding and important experiences I’ve ever had.
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