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If You Really Knew Me...

Socioeconomic and Class Issues in Higher Education
November 16, 2015 Kristin Sowden

As I left work the other day, I observed a group of first year students playing “If you really knew me” with their Orientation Guide. For those of you out of the icebreaker gamut, this is an activity where students disclose tidbits of information about themselves, varying in intensity based on the group and setting. Seeing some of my students in this circle got me thinking about pieces of my identity that I haven’t fully disclosed just yet.

So, Student Affairs friends, here it is:

If you really knew me, you would know: I am an extreme couponer.

I know. Academic advisor by day, couponista by night. I just I can’t get enough of those Sunday newspaper inserts. Red Plum, Smart Source, Online Coupons … the more the better.

My fascination in couponing started at a young age. Enclosed in my birthday cards from my grandparents, who had lived through the depression, were dozens of coupons for my parents. I never took notice until graduate school, when things got tough (those graduate assistant stipends can only go so far!) During my first year of full-time professional work, I decided to give couponing a shot. Like a good student, I voraciously read everything I could online, and after a few weeks, I took the plunge and headed to our local Target for my first coupon haul.

To make a long story short, my first experience couponing was less than a success, but by chance, I bumped into the administrative assistant in our student activities office, who as is turn out, is a couponing pro. She and I have become great friends and we meet often to discuss “the deals”. In fact, this February, we are planning on presenting a couponing workshop at our University through Training and Development.

For me, couponing is a fun hobby. It’s also a way to help support my little family as we build our lives in Student Affairs (my husband also works here on campus).  We will never hoard paper towels or dish soap in “stockpile room”, but it is nice to have an extra bottle or two of shampoo on Monday morning at6 AM when I run out.

It’s also a chance to connect with students on how to create a healthy financial future. While not every student wants to pull out their scissors and clip coupons with me, disclosing my extracurricular couponing usually opens a great conversation about financial literacy and management. While some of my students are financially stable, some (many) are struggling to get by, in which case, knowing how to read a store circular can really pay off.

As an academic advisor, I feel so fortunate that students from across country entrust in me conversations about their future hopes and dreams. Money is always a part of those conversations, and these days more than ever, I feel prepared to share, “where there is a will, there is a way.” Especially if the local newspaper delivers.

Kristin Sowden serves as an Academic Advisor at James Madison University in the Integrated Science and Technology department, specifically with the Intelligence Analysis and Geographic Science programs. Previously, Kristin worked in the office of Career and Academic Planning, where she served as both an academic advisor to undeclared first year students and a career services liaison to Technology and Engineering. Before coming to Virginia, Kristin attended the College of New Jersey, where she earned a degree in English and Secondary Education.  She now holds her Masters in College Student Personnel Administration from JMU, and is pursuing her PhD at JMU. Kristin also teaches with the Graduate Psychology department, and works with the Duke University Talent Identification Program on psychology curriculum development and education. Her professional interests are in the first generation college student experience, female professional identity development, faculty development, and qualitative inquiry. She also loves couponing.