I just wrapped up a week of working enrollment at Easton College, and if you’ve ever worked one of these gigs, you know the specific, chaotic rhythm of the whole thing.
Enrollment week exists in two distinct modes: absolute, all-hands-on-deck frenzy, or the kind of vast, stretching boredom where you start memorizing the emergency exit signs. There is no middle ground. One minute you’re a well-oiled machine churning through course codes, identity checks, and photo queues for nervous freshers, and the next you’re sitting in total silence waiting for the next busload of students to appear.
What made the week actually fly by, though, was the crew. I was stationed with Debs, Gary, and Chloe—a 17-year-old student helping out on the front lines. Having Chloe on the team was gold because she brought the real, unfiltered student perspective to the desk, while Debs, Gary, and I tried to keep the logistical wheels turning without losing the plot.
It’s always an odd mix of human connection and admin endurance. You meet hundreds of faces in seven days—some terrified, some overconfident, some parents who look far more stressed than their kids—and in between, you bond with your desk mates over strong tea and the shared relief when the 4 PM slump finally ends.
Glad to have survived the week, grateful for the good company, and very ready for a weekend off.
Val and Peter Ball are ....... 