Reflections of a Rookie
By Joe Wilcox

To say I was surprised that I was chosen as the 2004 TASFAA Rookie of the year is like saying Marilyn Manson is a bit strange (for you old timers out there, think Alice Cooper in the 70’s).

The announcement was truly a surprise to me, evidenced by the fact that I was not even in the room when my name was called, but I showed up about 15 minutes after the festivities began. I guess beyond the surprise, the real impression that came over me was humility and gratefulness. I was truly humbled that my colleagues on the board selected me to receive this award. I had voted on this award for others during my tenure on the board and I was thinking that I don’t even compare to the efforts that those individuals put forth in service to TASFAA. This coupled with the fact that I know they are such intelligent, dedicated individuals who serve TASFAA who never receive recognition, never want recognition, and were around before this type of recognition even existed, made me feel all the more humble.

I have told many of you my story before, but a brief summary can put some perspective on my surprise. I started in financial aid at UT Austin in late 1987/early 1988, somewhere around there. And like many of you, I was simply content to go about doing the best I could do in my job serving students, processing paper and answering questions. I had one brief stint, coming out of my behind the scenes contentment, in 1993 when I presented a session at the fall conference here in Austin. And is usually the case, I only did this because I was asked as a personal favor by a friend on the local arrangements committee. Outside of that, I simply did my job and existed. Outside of getting too existentialist on anyone, let me just say that I worked at UT and stayed at UT. Then somewhere in 1999 the house of cards came down. Another personal favor/recommendation came up when my colleague Santa Garza was herself involved in TASFAA, and in 1999 I volunteered to become the newsletter editor after the previous editor had to step down. I enjoyed my stint as newsletter editor for 4 years, seeing my greatest achievement as having the newsletter transition from a paper format to an electronic format. In my 4th year as newsletter editor, I was asked to fill in the remainder of a board position for someone who had resigned. And like many on the board, I wore two hats at that time. I was asked to serve a fifth term but declined at that time in order to make a one-time run for the board. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I figured I had sat in on board meetings for the past 4 years as the newsletter editor, served out the better part of a year as a board member as nominated replacement, had a good idea of what the organizations goals were, and knew who to work with, so I ran. Through the support of my colleagues, I secured a two-year stint on the board. And that’s where I am now, in the last year of my two-year stint on the board.

So what all of this is saying is that I have been around for a while, relatively speaking, and the moniker of Rookie of the Year just didn’t jibe with the years of experience. But then I recalled something that was mentioned in one of the many discussions that I had with other board members, and that was that this award should really be renamed the ‘Rising Leadership’ award, similar to what SWASFAA does. And when you look at it in that context, then this award makes sense.

So I guess I have to comment on that whole rising leadership thing now, right? Well let me just say that I had initially set my mind to serve out the remainder of my two-year board term and then ride off into the sunset. Outside of being on the board, the next logical progression would be vice president and/or president, and I am not really looking for that kind of commitment or responsibility at this time. And while I gratefully acknowledge the requests and nominations of my colleagues to serve in these capacities, I have chosen not to do so at this time. Maybe part of me feels that there are just so many more capable and knowledgeable individuals out there who should take on that role, surely not simple ol’ me.

I will say one thing for all the other potential ‘rookies’ out there. You sure do learn a lot when you get involved in TASFAA. You meet so many people and absorb so much information; it really is a great experience. And for those of you who think TASFAA leadership is only for Directors, Associate Directors, and Assistant Directors; while I don’t know the entire history of the board, I do know that I am the only one on the current board who does not have such a title. I know experience goes hand in hand with title in most cases, but there are a lot of good people out there who have been around a long time, have good ideas and your involvement in TASFAA would be a good thing for TASFAA.

As always, thanks to everyone for your continued support.