Sonja Langford - Graduate Student
Program Coordinator
Four Arrows – LOD Office of Student Activities
How did you find your position? What was the process like from application to the offer stage? Please detail your experience.
I was moving from Charlotte, North Carolina to Connecticut for grad school. I knew I would need a job and searched to see if UConn had a challenge course program on campus and found Four Arrows. I sent Zack Schultz an email and laid out my previous relevant experience and interest in working for Four Arrows. He informed me that a new position was opening up for Graduate Program Coordinator and I applied for it. I had a great interview and was hired to fill this new position.
What made you apply for your position?
I was excited for an opportunity to move into more of a leadership role and continue developing my skills as a Facilitator after having worked as a community facilitator at a similar Challenge Course program at my previous university in North Carolina.
How have you been able to balance your schoolwork and work responsibilities? Please provide details of any challenges or hurdles you have encountered.
I am very diligent about managing my time. I set aside blocks of time to work on my art practice, course work, and work assignments. I also am sure to make time to relax and do things that I love like cycling or hiking.
What are your personal keys to success and what aspects of your job do you find the most fulfilling or enjoyable?
I love being a facilitator. The satisfaction of creating an environment where I can offer people an opportunity to find their inner strength and learn to trust each other is really fulfilling. It’s not just a job; it’s a daily dose of excitement, pushing myself and others to grow. Whether it’s cheering someone on as they climb a wall or helping a team bond through shared challenges, being a facilitator is like being part of a never-ending adventure where I have the opportunity to help folks come out stronger and more confident.
Describe your typical day at work?
There really isn’t a “typical day at work” when working for Four Arrows. Some days I am lead facilitator for a group out at our challenge course and I am helping with set up and take down of our low and high ropes courses, other times, I am on campus in an academic building leading a mobile program for a learning community. Other times I’m in the Student Union at the Leadership and Development Offices working on program planning or running a staff meeting for our student facilitators.
What skills have you acquired or developed in your on-campus job that can contribute to your career readiness or professional development?
I have continued to develop my facilitation skills and learned a lot more about experiential education (which will help me with my goals to teach art courses at a collegiate level going forward). I have also learned more about being in a leadership role and working in a larger team as a supervisor. Additionally, I have had several opportunities to develop my experience and knowledge level in Challenge Course management.
