We're excited to feature Student Voices, our blog series that brings unique student perspectives to our blog. From academic challenges to tech-driven success stories, hear directly from students about the tools, strategies, and experiences shaping their education. Stay tuned for inspiring insights!
How One ERP Administrator's Perspective Shifted Through Her Own Student Experience
I used to think I had my career all figured out. Cybersecurity was the goal. It felt exciting, important, and honestly, a little heroic. I pictured myself protecting systems, stopping threats, and being on the front lines of something that really mattered. And while I still respect that path, something in me shifted in a way I didn't expect after attending Ellucian Live for the first time.
What made it different wasn't just being there as an IT professional. It was being there as both a professional and a student.
Seeing Beyond the System
Working in IT as an ERP administrator, I've always known my job is important. I keep systems running, make sure data is accurate, and troubleshoot issues before they grow into bigger problems. But if I'm being honest, a lot of that work can feel invisible. When things are working, no one notices. When something breaks, that's when you're seen. It's easy to feel like you're just maintaining something in the background, disconnected from the bigger picture.
Ellucian Live changed that for me.
For the first time, I didn't just see systems. I saw people in them. I saw visions of students trying to register for classes, worried about whether they'd get what they need. I saw people navigating financial aid, trying to make sense of something that can feel overwhelming and intimidating. And it hit me in a way it never had before: the systems I work on aren't just tools. They are part of someone’s daily life, someone's stress, someone's hope for a better future.
Then there was the student side of me.
Seeing It Through a Student's Eyes
I didn't have to imagine what it felt like. I was living it. I know what it's like to log into a system and feel confused, to second-guess if you're doing something right, to feel frustrated when something that should be simple isn't. But I also know how powerful it feels when things just work, when technology gets out of your way and supports you. In those moments, you feel capable. You feel like you belong.
A Shift in Perspective
That's what really stayed with me.
It made everything personal.
I realized that my work isn't just about systems, it's about experiences. It's about whether a student feels supported or discouraged. Whether they keep going or feel like giving up. That's not something I had fully allowed myself to see before.
And once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it.
I started to understand that what I do matters in a different way than I originally thought. It's not just about keeping things running, it's about making things better. It's about asking, "Is this helping students, or is it just functioning?" Because those are two very different things.
Where I Go From Here
That realization has changed how I see my role and where I want to go.
I still care about security. I still value the importance of protecting systems. But now, I feel pulled toward something more human, something more connected. I want to advocate for technology that actually supports students, that makes their lives easier, not harder. I want to be part of conversations that rethink how we use these systems, not just maintain them.
Because students today are dealing with so much already. The last thing they need is to struggle with the very tools that are supposed to help them succeed.
If we can change that — if we can create systems that are intuitive, supportive, and built with students in mind — we're not just improving technology. We're improving student outcomes. We're helping people believe in themselves a little more.
Ellucian Live didn't just teach me something new. It made me feel something I hadn't felt before in my career. It gave me a deeper sense of purpose. It reminded me that behind every login, every form, every piece of data, there's a real person trying to move forward.
And now, that's what drives me.
Not just to do my job, but to make it matter.
