Name: Abijah Kratochvil
Position/Title: Coordinator of New Student Orientation & Campus tours
Current institution: San Jacinto College
How long have you been in the profession? I have been working in higher education for over 5 years.

Give us some background! Where are you from, where did you grow up, a little info on what you do in your position at San Jacinto?
I grew up on a farm in north central Arkansas, which my fiancé likes to tease me about. I lived in Arkansas my entire life until three years ago when I accepted a position in Galveston. Not knowing anyone when I moved was a challenge, but working in admissions, you make friends quickly with colleagues from other institutions. It was definitely one of the best decisions I have made. Currently, I supervise all aspects of new student orientation at the San Jacinto College North Campus. I train our Student Ambassadors and coordinate with recruiting and other departments on giving campus tours.

What’s a special or hidden talent that you have? 
There are reasons my talents are hidden ;-) 

What did you think you wanted to be when you were 5 years old? 
When I was little I always said I was going to be rich with a pretty house keeper. I didn’t really know what I wanted to be, besides wealthy. Boy did I choose the wrong industry for that. Now, I will say, that I can’t imagine working in a more fulfilling field than higher education and, that while I don’t have a pretty housekeeper, I do have a very handsome fiancé.

What drew you to your current position?
Being able to supervise student ambassadors is what drew me to apply for the position at San Jac. While at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, I supervised 24 ambassadors and enjoyed being able to mentor students, some of whom I am still in contact with today. Getting to see their growth and knowing that I had a small part in it is worth more than gold.

What has been your favorite moment in your current position?
The student ambassadors at San Jac really liked the previous Coordinator and were nervous about what kind of “boss” I would be. The first time I did a clap back on one of them and they saw that I could take and give jokes with them was a good moment. It started to bring down their walls to where we could connect on a different level.

What are you most excited about in your new position?
I started at San Jac during the middle of a reorganization and we are not finished yet. One thing that’s changing is new student orientation. I am excited that I get to be part of shaping NSO so that it is more effective and better for students. 

What’s one thing we definitely have to know about you?
If anyone has taken the Strengths Quest, I am a WOO Communicator which I don’t think will surprise anyone. I have never met a stranger and will talk to anyone, even the Walgreens clerk in Miami who doesn’t speak English.

What is your favorite thing about being in TACAC?
My favorite thing about TACAC has to be Camp College. I was a counselor for 2 years and the friendships I made through that are priceless. Also, getting to mentor students for those few days is a blast. If you have not applied to be a Camp College counselor, then I highly recommend that you do. It’s the most fun you can have at work.