Some may question as to why / what the title “Tour Guide Brian” has relevancy to who I am.
Each blogger (or person in general) must wake up every morning and realize who they are. Take charge of an aspect of your strength and let it grow with you.
For myself, the 3 academic years I spent as a campus tour guide at Kutztown University was one of my shining moments in life feeling fulfilled at the end of each day (or tour).
It was freedom in leading others and strengthening communication between different visitors. It felt like a blend of being a performer, but as a professional ambassador. No pressure or strings of sales, quota, or products. There were some numbers relating to the audiences you would encounter, though.
You could have an artist who’s been around the world investing into an art program, a potential transfer who has raised concerns of specific schools, or 11th grade kids just tapping into what the whole higher education process is like. Some days featured IMMENSE open houses with crowds of people from all backgrounds and cultures filing in and out of an auditorium with kids ready to reach their academic potential.
As a tour guide, you’re not supposed to give a humdrum presentation of sights like any brochure/website can offer. No. You paint the campus your own authentic way. You can weave in some small vignettes of your experiences–who you’ve met, what academic events you’ve attended, and what housing is like. College is the ultimate self-discovery time and being a campus tour guide gives everyone a keyhole glimpse of that.
There are times when you sometimes get that reflection, between you and the visitor (and their parents) that they are not too different than yourself. Being a meaningful lifeline may be helpful for your visitor in the long run. They may seek you out on campus again one day if they do enroll (which is always a plus).
You’ve changed that person’s life. Forever. The friends they make, the knowledge they fathom, and the goals they aspire to reach in life start at your greeting. If you sincerely give off the best 1st impression, you did your job. If you totally zonk out and lose touch with potential college students, then perhaps you should look to another job at campus.
In spirit, it uplifted me to be the best person possible with no hard strings attached. In every pursuit I take in life, I will credit and give thanks to the Admissions department for being a home. I grew into a giver, a talker, a joker, a striving person proud of a role that helped others.
A mentor of mine at Kutztown University sparked the idea that had been latent inside me for quite some time that TOUR GUIDE BRIAN was my brand and my identity that gave me the confidence to do whatever my heart desired.
Why? Because I put on a smile along with my maroon/gold jacket and a pair of Oakleys..and all at once, with ease, I snap my fingers, discuss the workings of my tour, and lead the way…
Tour Guide Brian 