Jesse Schrader from Hampden-Sydney College shares Advisor Advice for Fall 2025.
About this Advisor:
How did you spend your summer?
Hanging out with the kids!
Who/ what are you listening to, reading, or watching right now?
Jurassic Park/World Movies. My seven-year-old has discovered them and is having a blast with them.
What are you most looking forward to with school starting back?
Student Interactions. Summer is a ghost town.
What is your favorite part about your job?
The students. They never cease to amaze me with the things they come up with.
Advice from this Advisor:
When it comes to working with this current generation of students, what advice do you have for fellow advisors?
Listen and adapt. Some of our old ways of advising and event planning are not working and you need to understand what your students are asking for.
What advice do you have for new advisors and professionals as they step into their busy fall semester?
Breathe. Those events will happen and students will enjoy them. Plan accordingly and be prepared to change things on a dime. If you don’t give yourself time to breathe you won’t get to enjoy it.
What advice do you have for new student programmers who are stepping into their roles in the fall for the first time?
Go for it. No question or idea is too big. The worst someone can tell you is no. Keep trying. BUT, you have to put in the work. If you are not invested, how do you expect your peers to be?
What advice do you have for our experienced student leaders that are coming back for the fall in more senior leadership roles and have experience programming events/ leading their peers?
Think before you act. Process what is occurring and make an informed decision.
After months of planning, it’s finally event and show day! What’s your one absolute most important show tip to share with our readers?
After all the running around and scrambling, enjoy the show. I never listen to the band before they get to campus. I take time to listen to soundcheck and enjoy the atmosphere. Enjoy the hard work you put it.