REFLECTION - STORYTELLING

Challenge and Selection

I use Storytelling on my daily tasks as Admissions Office at a University. The people I work are young, and  unexperienced, so I must elaborate a quick overview of the career path they have chosen. Most of them  go to our meetings in company of their parents. I must have in mind that is not only a career that the  potential student is choosing, but an investment to the parents. Some of these students come from  disadvantaged families, so their admission is to a social scholarship. Often, these parents are most likely  to be open to the big achievements the potential student might achieve in the future. However, the  parents who don’t apply to any economical benefit are more interested on the costs.

And there is the potential student who comes alone. He/she is older than the others, it’s economically  independent and is looking forward to improving his/her opportunities in the market. I need to say that  these are my favorites, but also, the toughest. I like to think that my work is not to sell people education,  but to open their eyes to all opportunities they will have once they complete the educational career. So,  the independent young person, is the toughest not because of the cost (most of them apply to a  scholarship) but due their willingness to start such big project in time.

So, I started trying to learn about the potential students and their families to know better how the careers  they chosen might have a positive impact in all their lives. I start listening to the way the talk about things,  where they focus the most (is it the money? The time? Their needs?), and I gather all the information to  try to solve their doubts with a story.

Application

As I said before, the independent young person who wants to start a University Career is my favorite  person to have an admission meeting with, but also the toughest. I know so because I was that person  once. So, for me, the storytelling comes easy with those persons.

Once was this young man, around 22 years old, that his entire life wanted to become an accountant, as  his father was. His family had a truck company which moved goods all around the country and  internationally. He was so proud when he told me about his father truck, the first of the company, the  one in which he learned how to drive trucks. Unfortunately, his dad suffered a severe home accident and  was unable to keep working and died a few months later. This incident really affected the young man. He  was 16 when his dad died and took over some of the chores of the company while some of the uncles and  his mom took over the company. When he became 18, he was controlling most of the actions on the  company but refused the opportunity to go to school and become an accountant as he always wanted.  Years passed, he was about to get married, and there he was, on my office because his fiancée told him  to pursuit his dreams.

I spent almost half of our meeting time just listening to his story, but worth it. He feared losing sight of  what really matters (his dad company) if he enrolled in a University Degree. But he knew his fiancée was  right, I mean, he was in an Admissions Office.  I told him my story, how I was scared from moving from  one corner of the country to another just to get my degree. I told him how I got here with little money  and a heart full of fear and hope. I told him of my first years of working, studying and learning to be an  independent adult all at the same time and how I had to make a lot of previous steps to get to my goal:  get a University Degree.

Insight and Approach

I think he was not prepared to have that kind of talk on an admission meeting. He told me he was certain  that the meeting would proof nothing, and only dusty papers would remain as reminder of the meeting.  He ended up applying later that same day.

I shared this story with one of my colleagues and he shared back other stories alike. We talked about how  people are making a big decision coming to us and most of them can open once they have the chance. To  tell them that there are people that wore their shoes is really soothing for them. We ended up asked the  university to have more Story Telling related trainings instead of Sales trainings. The university accepted  this and now trainings like these are mandatory.


REFLECTION - STORYTELLING Challenge and Selection I use Storytelling on my daily tasks as Admissions Office at a University . The people I work are young , and unexperienced , so I must elaborate a quick overview of the career path they have chosen . Most of them go to our meetings in company of their parents . I must have in mind that is not only a career that the potential student is choosing , but an investment to the parents . Some of these students come from disadvantaged families , so their admission is to a social scholarship . Often , these parents are most likely to be open to the big achievements the potential student might achieve in the future . However , the parents who do n’t apply to any economical benefit are more interested on the costs . And there is the potential student who comes alone . He / she is older than the others , it ’s economically independent and is looking forward to improving his / her opportunities in the market . I need to say that these are my favorites , but also , the toughest . I like to think that my work is not to sell people education , but to open their eyes to all opportunities they will have once they complete the educational career . So , the independent young person , is the toughest not because of the cost ( most of them apply to a scholarship ) but due their willingness to start such big project in time . So , I started trying to learn about the potential students and their families to know better how the careers they chosen might have a positive impact in all their lives . I start listening to the way the talk about things , where they focus the most ( is it the money ? The time ? Their needs ? ) , and I gather all the information to try to solve their doubts with a story . Application As I said before , the independent young person who wants to start a University Career is my favorite person to have an admission meeting with , but also the toughest . I know so because I was that person once . So , for me , the storytelling comes easy with those persons . Once was this young man , around 22 years old , that his entire life wanted to become an accountant , as his father was . His family had a truck company which moved goods all around the country and internationally . He was so proud when he told me about his father truck , the first of the company , the one in which he learned how to drive trucks . Unfortunately , his dad suffered a severe home accident and was unable to keep working and died a few months later . This incident really affected the young man . He was 16 when his dad died and took over some of the chores of the company while some of the uncles and his mom took over the company . When he became 18 , he was controlling most of the actions on the company but refused the opportunity to go to school and become an accountant as he always wanted . Years passed , he was about to get married , and there he was , on my office because his fiancée told him to pursuit his dreams . I spent almost half of our meeting time just listening to his story , but worth it . He feared losing sight of what really matters ( his dad company ) if he enrolled in a University Degree . But he knew his fiancée was right , I mean , he was in an Admissions Office . I told him my story , how I was scared from moving from one corner of the country to another just to get my degree . I told him how I got here with little money and a heart full of fear and hope . I told him of my first years of working , studying and learning to be an independent adult all at the same time and how I had to make a lot of previous steps to get to my goal : get a University Degree . Insight and Approach I think he was not prepared to have that kind of talk on an admission meeting . He told me he was certain that the meeting would proof nothing , and only dusty papers would remain as reminder of the meeting . He ended up applying later that same day . I shared this story with one of my colleagues and he shared back other stories alike . We talked about how people are making a big decision coming to us and most of them can open once they have the chance . To tell them that there are people that wore their shoes is really soothing for them . We ended up asked the university to have more Story Telling related trainings instead of Sales trainings . The university accepted this and now trainings like these are mandatory .