By Rachel Zak

Shortly after graduating from Florida State University, Alejandro Valentin acquired a job with FSU’s English department as an administrative associate and human resources representative.

Despite the clunky title, the position is proving to be a great environment for Valentin, who says he is a creative type himself. He spends his lunch breaks and free time in the office sketching on scrap pieces of paper and creating digital art.

Valentin’s office is decorated with those sketches, along with artwork from friends. He also displays several statues he has collected. The English department chair, Professor Gary Taylor, recently walked into Valentin’s office area and told him that he appreciates having another artistic person in the department.

The shift from being a student to full-time work was “something I needed to get used to” Valentin admits. Valentin earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from FSU, with a minor in education, and he graduated in the spring of 2022.

He laughs as he recalls that it only took two weeks of sleeping in until 11 a.m. for him to miss the routine of his college-life schedule.

“I had to have a reason to wake up at 6 a.m. and get ready—to have my shirts ironed,” Valentin says.

Although the transition was a big adjustment, he welcomes his new schedule because he is happy at work.

"It doesn’t feel like a job,” Valentin says. “I enjoy my co-workers, I enjoy clocking in and out—I enjoy every part of it.”

As the English department’s HR representative, he works in the department’s main office in 405 Williams Building. Along with the HR aspect of the job, which consists of payroll, posting job advertisements, and keeping the department’s employee information updated, Valentin also fills his time with office tasks such as printing, sorting mail, and making copies.

Valentin says he has always been drawn to HR work, and after applying to most positions FSU offered in that field, he was ecstatic when the English department’s Business Manager Clare Harrison called him for an interview.

“I applied everywhere and, luckily, Clare called me, and I got the job,” he says. “I remember that I was just so happy."

Valentin is a Miami native and says he headed north to FSU to find somewhat of a quieter environment. When he is not working, Valentin spends his free time playing video games, drawing, painting, creating digital art, and reading. Two of his all-time favorite books are In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

“I love those books for their way of bringing someone into a world that you wouldn't expect,” Valentin says.

Valentin was not sure where he would find work after graduation, but he and his artwork found a comfortable space in the English department.

Rachel Zak is an English major on the editing, writing, and media track, with a minor in humanities.

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