My Engaged Learning Experience
Jaguar Leadership Network
Angel Gammon
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Fall 2023 door tags for the "music" floor theme, made by Connor Yugo.
My Purpose
For my engaged learning experience, I am a Residential Assistant (RA) at University Tower here at IUPUI. As an RA, there are various tasks I’ve engaged in. These tasks included things such as building connections with residents, being “on duty” (holding the emergency phone when the front desk closes), attending weekly staff meetings, making decorations for my floor, etc. I chose to be an RA because I wanted a source of independence, to gain a leadership opportunity on campus, to be a person residents could depend on and go to for anything, and more beyond those reasonings. Overall, having the opportunity to be an RA is something I am grateful for and am happy to have had a chance to grow with it.
For my engaged learning experience, I am a Residential Assistant (RA) at University Tower here at IUPUI. As an RA, there are various tasks I’ve engaged in. These tasks included things such as building connections with residents, being “on duty” (holding the emergency phone when the front desk closes), attending weekly staff meetings, making decorations for my floor, etc. I chose to be an RA because I wanted a source of independence, to gain a leadership opportunity on campus, to be a person residents could depend on and go to for anything, and more beyond those reasonings. Overall, having the opportunity to be an RA is something I am grateful for and am happy to have had a chance to grow with it.
My Prior Experience
Being an RA has helped me with my coursework in my classes, such as helping me to know how to balance which tasks need to be completed first, as I also do with the RA role (knowing how to balance putting up posters, making door decorations, and having meetings with residents). It has helped me with out-of-classroom experiences as well, such as aiding residents with proper resources they need on campus when they’re confused on which place to go to for their need or want. And in general, the RA role has helped me with my personal life experiences, such as knowing how to file a certain type of report when someone breaks student conduct or when I know a peer who may need some help (which I had to previously, and the RA role taught me how to file that report). My engaged learning experience as an RA will help me better prepare for the next steps in my career journey because it will teach me leadership skills and how to take initiative, especially since I plan to work in higher education and those are great qualities to have when doing so. Being an RA has helped me grow in my leadership role on campus and within the housing community. It has also helped me grow as a student who manages and balances many roles on campus. Learning how to apply the skills I learned within it outside of my role has made me grow profesionally but also personally as a student. Overall, being an RA has helped me feel more like a jaguar!
Being an RA has helped me with my coursework in my classes, such as helping me to know how to balance which tasks need to be completed first, as I also do with the RA role (knowing how to balance putting up posters, making door decorations, and having meetings with residents). It has helped me with out-of-classroom experiences as well, such as aiding residents with proper resources they need on campus when they’re confused on which place to go to for their need or want. And in general, the RA role has helped me with my personal life experiences, such as knowing how to file a certain type of report when someone breaks student conduct or when I know a peer who may need some help (which I had to previously, and the RA role taught me how to file that report). My engaged learning experience as an RA will help me better prepare for the next steps in my career journey because it will teach me leadership skills and how to take initiative, especially since I plan to work in higher education and those are great qualities to have when doing so. Being an RA has helped me grow in my leadership role on campus and within the housing community. It has also helped me grow as a student who manages and balances many roles on campus. Learning how to apply the skills I learned within it outside of my role has made me grow profesionally but also personally as a student. Overall, being an RA has helped me feel more like a jaguar!
Spring 2024 cupcake decoration for "desserts" floor theme, made by Angel Gammon.
"Self-reflecting on how my circumstances are different from other students and that some may need more guidance than others".
My Community Connections
Being an RA has given me many opportunities to learn from different communities and cultures. As an RA, I meet people from different parts of Indiana (including areas I’ve never heard of) and outside of Indiana. Because my residents are from different areas, some have felt homesick and this is the first time on their own, whereas I used to commute and only have lived 20 minutes away and am able to still see my family while others can’t. I have also met residents who have grown up to a different culture than mine and their values and beliefs play into their interactions with me, my co-ra, and other residents. These interactions have influenced my own attitudes and beliefs about myself and others by self-reflecting on how my circumstances are different from other students and that some may need more guidance than others. Especially since I am in a freshman only dorm, many freshmen can get lost and confused on how to navigate college and may need additional help to get them through it. Because of this, I have advocated for my residents to talk to me whenever they felt that they wanted to and I always made sure to check on them and their wellbeing so fill my role as the RA but also as someone who's there for them.
Being an RA has given me many opportunities to learn from different communities and cultures. As an RA, I meet people from different parts of Indiana (including areas I’ve never heard of) and outside of Indiana. Because my residents are from different areas, some have felt homesick and this is the first time on their own, whereas I used to commute and only have lived 20 minutes away and am able to still see my family while others can’t. I have also met residents who have grown up to a different culture than mine and their values and beliefs play into their interactions with me, my co-ra, and other residents. These interactions have influenced my own attitudes and beliefs about myself and others by self-reflecting on how my circumstances are different from other students and that some may need more guidance than others. Especially since I am in a freshman only dorm, many freshmen can get lost and confused on how to navigate college and may need additional help to get them through it. Because of this, I have advocated for my residents to talk to me whenever they felt that they wanted to and I always made sure to check on them and their wellbeing so fill my role as the RA but also as someone who's there for them.
"One lesson that I have learned is the value of teamwork".
New Skills/Lessons I Gained
Throughout my engaged learning experience, I have learned many lessons and had many experiences that have shaped my RA role. One lesson that I have learned is the value of teamwork. For example, us RA’s have to work holiday shifts where we hold the emergency phones and check the building to make sure everything is going okay when residents and staff aren’t in the building. When we were scheduling holiday shifts, many people were not able to work the ones during Winter Break because they had plans or lived too far away. Because I knew that I lived only 20 minutes away, I offered to take a bunch of holiday shifts since I knew my co-workers weren’t able to. Doing this made my co-workers and supervisor very appreciative of my willingness to “take one for the team” and they admired my diligence. Adopting this lesson of teamwork has helped me in the RA role but will also help me in my future career if I have team projects or if my staff team needs to volunteer or do extra work for something and I’m able to do it and they’re not. Adopting this lesson also helped me learn that being an RA is a very "hands on deck" role and every individual and what they provide for the team counts and is very valued amongst the staff.
Throughout my engaged learning experience, I have learned many lessons and had many experiences that have shaped my RA role. One lesson that I have learned is the value of teamwork. For example, us RA’s have to work holiday shifts where we hold the emergency phones and check the building to make sure everything is going okay when residents and staff aren’t in the building. When we were scheduling holiday shifts, many people were not able to work the ones during Winter Break because they had plans or lived too far away. Because I knew that I lived only 20 minutes away, I offered to take a bunch of holiday shifts since I knew my co-workers weren’t able to. Doing this made my co-workers and supervisor very appreciative of my willingness to “take one for the team” and they admired my diligence. Adopting this lesson of teamwork has helped me in the RA role but will also help me in my future career if I have team projects or if my staff team needs to volunteer or do extra work for something and I’m able to do it and they’re not. Adopting this lesson also helped me learn that being an RA is a very "hands on deck" role and every individual and what they provide for the team counts and is very valued amongst the staff.
Housing and Residence Life staff on move in weekend. https://images.app.goo.gl/vXcGDDSBWhFmiwtA7.
How My Engaged Learning Experience Impacted Me
The RA experience has left an everlasting impact on me. It impacted my ability to adjust and adapt when needed and helped me learn how to foster a community with trust and belonging. I believe I impacted my community with genuine care and by giving them a leader they could depend on. My residents and staff team impacted me and my thoughtfulness for others and helped me learn how to work with a close-knit group of people. My experiences with building relationships with my residents has definitely impacted the way I viewed my RA role. My residents help me build more on my professionalism but also my rapport building skills with them. I believe I created a lasting difference within the housing community. Whether it's with my fellow coworkers, my supervisors, or directors in housing, I believe I've made a name for myself and what an RA should be.
The RA experience has left an everlasting impact on me. It impacted my ability to adjust and adapt when needed and helped me learn how to foster a community with trust and belonging. I believe I impacted my community with genuine care and by giving them a leader they could depend on. My residents and staff team impacted me and my thoughtfulness for others and helped me learn how to work with a close-knit group of people. My experiences with building relationships with my residents has definitely impacted the way I viewed my RA role. My residents help me build more on my professionalism but also my rapport building skills with them. I believe I created a lasting difference within the housing community. Whether it's with my fellow coworkers, my supervisors, or directors in housing, I believe I've made a name for myself and what an RA should be.
University Tower. https://images.app.goo.gl/VrWeJiSQQR97rrXx9.
How This Will Play Into My Career Connections
Based on my experience, I plan on returning as an RA at University Tower for the 2024-2025 academic year. I want to continue on fostering a sense of community for my residents and to continue to work with a great team to give those residents an amazing housing experience. This will connect to my career goals because I plan to work in higher education and gaining these interpersonal connections while being in college will help me better prepare for it. It's almost my form of an "internship" to lead me to where I want to be and go. Aside from the RA role, I still plan to take on other leadership initiatives as well. I plan on being President for my club Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) and to continue working at my on-campus job in a Geology Lab. But I will also venture out and take on any other leadership opportunities my heart (and schedule) desires. I want to continue to grow not only for myself but for my community and what I represent as well.
Based on my experience, I plan on returning as an RA at University Tower for the 2024-2025 academic year. I want to continue on fostering a sense of community for my residents and to continue to work with a great team to give those residents an amazing housing experience. This will connect to my career goals because I plan to work in higher education and gaining these interpersonal connections while being in college will help me better prepare for it. It's almost my form of an "internship" to lead me to where I want to be and go. Aside from the RA role, I still plan to take on other leadership initiatives as well. I plan on being President for my club Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) and to continue working at my on-campus job in a Geology Lab. But I will also venture out and take on any other leadership opportunities my heart (and schedule) desires. I want to continue to grow not only for myself but for my community and what I represent as well.
"Playing such a big role on campus has not always been easy, but is something I'm grateful I've done".
Summary of What I've Learned
Overall, my biggest takeaways from my experience as an RA would be to step out of your comfort zone and ask for help when needed. Playing such a big role on campus has not always been easy, but is something I'm grateful I've done. I'm glad that I was able to communicate with my team within the RA role to strengthen myself and my potential for it. I'm excited for my future opportunities I hold in leadership and I'm happy that the RA role has set me up for it. To conclude, having this role is something I'm happy to have had and has made me feel like more of a jaguar!
Overall, my biggest takeaways from my experience as an RA would be to step out of your comfort zone and ask for help when needed. Playing such a big role on campus has not always been easy, but is something I'm grateful I've done. I'm glad that I was able to communicate with my team within the RA role to strengthen myself and my potential for it. I'm excited for my future opportunities I hold in leadership and I'm happy that the RA role has set me up for it. To conclude, having this role is something I'm happy to have had and has made me feel like more of a jaguar!
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