AdvoCats - Service Learning

     No body ever seems to know what an AdvoCat is; whenever I mention it, my audience will nod their heads until I finish and then say something like, "Now, what's an Advocat?" AdvoCats are the student volunteers for the Office of Admissions who provide weekly tours for prospective students and families. You've probably seen us on campus; we're always walking backwards followed by a confused-looking group of people.
     Once a week we have Advocat Class where we learn how to put our best foot forward. On the first day of class this semester (my first Advo. class ever) we were supposed to work out our tour schedules. I knew that much, but when the class began, we were bombarded (nicely, of course, because the people at the Office of Admissions are awesome) with information about the school - facts, numbers, stories, tour routes. I knew nothing: or at least, that's the idea that was swimming through my head.
     And then, as we neared the end of class, the coordinator pulled out the tour schedule. I had no idea how the tour schedule worked; I was expecting to give tours whenever I was available, something I know I wasn't ready for. However, I was relieved of this worry when I found out AdvoCats only give one tour a week and it's the same day, same time every week. I was even further relieved when I found my name under the "Thursday morning Alternates" list which would mean I only give tours when the "Regulars" can't make it. Now, I'll be honest: I was relieved, because a lot of my worries had suddenly disappeared, but I was also a bit bummed. I wanted to be an Advocat; I went through the application process and the interviews and I got it: they chose me and I wanted to give tours.
     But then they moved me up.
     Advocat class is on Wednesdays. The coordinator had just moved my name up from the "Alternates" to an empty spot on the "Regulars" list for the very next morning. I had just seen the tour route and information for the first time and I was going to have to give a tour the very next morning?! Yes. But, I was relieved yet again by the other Regular who had been an Advocat before; she took the real tour group while the practicing newbies took a practice tour by themselves.
     Last Thursday, I gave my very first solo tour. I was just me waling backwards, and fifteen other potential Bobcats and despite my nervousness the night before, it went swimmingly. I gave three more solo tours the very next day (last Friday) at MSU Friday.