Discussions

Sara P. Administrative & Program Support Technician

The most challenging aspect of my role, I would say, is not knowing things that are talked about is some meetings I am in or in conversations I am a part of.  I take the opportunity to ask questions so I have a better understanding.  I don't have to know ALL of the things; it's good to be willing to learn and ask questions.

March 24, 2026 07:45 PM

Karen T. Senior Extension Agent

My position currently covers 5 different counties, and although the communities are close together in proximity, their needs can be very different. A solution to address one county's needs may not be the best for another due to different resource availability. 

March 30, 2026 04:04 PM

Kate R. Assistant Director Of Employer Relations And Career Services

One of the hardest parts of my role is balancing multiple priorities, especially when everything might feel urgent. I’ve learned to stay organized, communicate clearly about timelines, and focus on what will have the biggest impact.

April 02, 2026 12:45 PM

James N. Academic And Career Advisor

As an academic advisor, the biggest challenge that I face is the seasonality of my work. The beginning of the semester when classes are getting started, the middle of the semester when registration is going on, and the end of the semester when some students are struggling to finish their classes, can be overwhelming in terms of demand from students. The times in between can sometimes drag a bit.

I deal with this seasonality by trying to spread the work to the lull times as much as possible with proactive advising that allows students to make their decisions early instead of waiting until the last minute. But that doesn't work with every student, so I also spend those times on professional development to become a better advisor and pick up new skills. Virginia Tech is great for offering lots of avenues to learn new things for free. I've taken workshops to learn R, Canvas, Google AppScript, and worked on projects using Chat GPT Edu and Co-Pilot, all of which I have subsequently used to make my advising job easier and more efficient.

April 02, 2026 02:08 PM