Being an RA was a challenging yet rewarding experience. It has widened my compassion, resilience and patience. I learned how to be an effective collaborator and leader; assets which continue to benefit me both in my classes and outside of them. I have yet to graduate, but already recognize the positive contribution it has had on my personal growth. 

My time working as a Resident Advisor helped me gain a lot of confidence in my ability to flourish in a busy environment. RAs are given a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of support, so I was able to surprise myself with just how much I could accomplish with the proper balance of organization, time management, and self-care. This is even more applicable to my experience as a senior RA. Running a committee and mentoring new RAs required me to learn to trust my instincts and to be more responsible with my use of resources. In turn, I grew exponentially in that one year. I truly believe the experience of working in Residence Life at SAIC provides a balance of high-responsibility with high-support that is unparalleled and will help anyone who rises to the challenge feel prepared for life post-graduation! 

Being an RA was my first experience feeling a sense of community at SAIC. Many of my current close friends are those I've met through the RA role and still keep in touch with today. It has taught me many lessons that I carry everyday. It gave me professional experience and impacted my art practice at SAIC as it opened up many opportunities and exposed me to virtually every department through fellow RAs/SRAs. I've learned administrative skills, time management, event planning, crisis handling, and general empathy. These are transferable skills that I mention in my professional documents like resumes and cover letters every time. If you find something you're passionate about in the RA role, the opportunity is invaluable.

Residence Life from the beginning had a positive impact through making me feel at home in a new place, which was especially helpful as someone making the transition from homeschooling to college. As a student, working as a PA, RA, and SRA were significant commitments of time but helped me to be more involved in the community. Post graduation, Residence Life had the largest impact through what I learned about self organization and being comfortable with public speaking. Professionally, the ability to talk in front of a group of people has helped with everything from giving presentations to voicing new ideas. (Shoutout to my Hall Directors: Dani, Trina, Liz, and Danny!)