"How to Survive in Financial Aid"
Every year about this time, I wonder if I will be able to survive the year due to changes that are always on going as we prepare for a new award year. I have more things to do than I can possibly finish in my lifetime as the old saying goes. Most of us are probably being expected to do more with less resources, whether it be in the area of personnel or budget. I find myself constantly juggling this and that to satisfy deadlines, supervisors, students, etc.

This year has brought a lot of changes in my life: new Associate Director who is wonderful, a new supervisor who has lot of new ideas for change, our decision to purchase a computer software program and the opportunity to serve RMASFAA as president (thank you).

Since almost the time that covered wagons rolled across the Kansas prairies, we have been doing awards manually in our office. As we are changing from a manual-driven office to a computer driven environment, we are being forced to evaluate every step of our process. It's similar to spring cleaning where you throw away or give away certain items or decide to use them in a different way. What a treat it will be when we can produce award letters at the touch of a "button." Of course, I know it's not really going to be that easy, but I can dream, can't I?

As I look back over the last twenty years, here are some tips that have helped me survive:

1. Being familiar with the chain of command within the institution; determining each administrator's span of control and devising ways to fit with the prevailing structure of the institution.
   Choose your battles carefully; you can win a battle but lose the war!
2. Carefully observe communication patterns. The best communication is two way.
   Remember that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different!
3. Be aware of planning processes.
   Check small things; share credit; perpetual optimism is a force multiplier!
4. Carefully develop personal work goals, staff goals (with their help) and institutional goals. Discover how these goals fit together and where incongruencies may exist.
   Every day, look for some small way to improve the way you do your job.
   Be there when people need you!
5. Set sensible goals for personal and professional activities and negotiate reasonable support from supervisors and staff.
   What you must do, do cheerfully!
   When friends offer to help, let them!
6. The two most important attributes that a person in a financial aid office should have is flexibility and a strong sense of humor.
   Flexible people don't get bent out of shape. Or as one of my staff members is find of saying, He/She who laughs, lasts!

Above all, take time to enjoy each and every day. I'm not sure the source of the following quote but we should all take it to heart: "Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. And remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!!"

Happy Valentine's Day! From your president who is young at heart, but slightly older in other places.