Today I just held what is probably going to be the last floor meeting with my residents. The messages I had were simple and regarding moving out and exam time. But that is not the message I got from them.
My group of residents this year was supposed to be about 30 first year girls. That grew by about another 30 guys when I realized my floor partner - as decent as he was - never let his guys know about ANYTHING on campus. Informing these guys landed on my shoulders. During this last meeting with everyone gathered in my lounge one particular resident snapped a photo of me speaking. This is when I realized just how much I was actually going to miss them.
In the position of being an RA you have your buttons pushed and your stress levels maxed out. On top of worrying about the well being of a group of first year students, you have typically a full course load, you need to make sure your building isn't burnt to the ground, and your own relationships to maintain not to mention taking care of yourself. There are some days where you hate your students (well usually just a certain few) and there are others where you just can't wait to see them and hear about what they are up to.
Sometimes when you see one of them having a bad day all you need to do is smile, give them a hug and leave them a secret card with words of encouragement. But the best is when you are having a bad day and even if only one of them notices you get the most adorable notes and warm smiles.
All this made me realize what I really want to pursue in life. What I want to do when I leave my itty bitty box. I want to move into an itty bitty apartment somewhere in the depths of a residence building on any Canadian campus. The residence life field is something that just pulls you in and won't spit you out until it sees fit....if ever. But I am totally okay with that. I think the amount of decorations and ideas and coping mechanisms I have stocked up on over the past two years will see me through a few more.
The relationships built in a residence community are ones that will hopefully last a while and provide memories that will last even longer. It is hard to imagine that leaving my current community will mean the end of making memories here. It only excites me to find a new community. That is the magic of residence and working in residence life, you are working in a community where you are able to build relationships and grow with your co-workers. What friendships have you made at your place of employment? I am sure there are many valuable relationships built in other workplaces but there are few built in a place where you live, eat, sleep and work with your co-workers and countless residents seeking guidance. This is what I now challenge you, take that step to build a community amongst your co-workers. Set up a theme party or staff barbecue, or if you can bake cookies for everyone (food works like a charm). If you don't want to do that, leave some nice secret notes for everyone; make an effort to make everyone smile, included the few you are not necessarily best buds with. Trust me, smiles around you make everything better.
Lessons Learned
- Don't knock res life until you really know what its like
- Make the effort to reach out to others
- Don't forget to smile!!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Lesson 7 - Procrastination
So as it is obvious, I have not posted in oh say, almost four months. What has not so suddenly became obvious is that I procrastinate a heck of a lot. In fact, as one can guess I am doing just that right now! Wonderful isn't it?
But what is procrastination? According to the website that most university students can thank to some degree for their successful survival of their undergrads, (wikipedia - so lovely really), Procrastination refers to the counterproductive deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite such behaviours as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.There are three criteria for a behavior to be classified as procrastination: it must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying.
One can only assume that the only reason I am posting now of all times is that I am oh so conveniently avoiding studying for my final three exams of my undergrad. While to most people this would seem so exciting and a huge step in my life (which it is), I only wish to delay these exams and studying for them. But why? Why do I want to do this? I have been reflecting on my past three years here - yes I am doing a three year BA - and I realized that I have been in a small bubble this whole time. I have made such tight knit, and close bonds to my school. I have lived on the same residence floor for these past three years and in the same room for the last two. I have worked here and learned the ins and outs of residence life here. I am safe here. I know what I am doing here.
There comes a part in everyone's lives when they need to move on from what they know and move on to what they don't know. What is new. What is terrifying. What is exciting. All I know is living in my teeny tiny room and waking up and saying good morning to 30 first years. All I know is the typical class routine. All I know is that I am so scared. All I know is that I am procrastinating so it feels like I am not leaving what has become home for me in 18 days.
The question comes, where do we go from here? What happens next? Will I get that job I want and know I would love? These are the questions that will be answered along the way. This whole time my life has been perfectly planned to a tee with multiple plan b's. Now is the time that I take that leap, close my eyes and just go. Do what I have never done before...have no idea or control on what happens next. Am I ready? I guess I will find out. Hold my hand, take the leap, we all need to sooner or later.
Lessons Learned
- NEVER leave your 4000 word essays to the night before. It kills you and only gets you a 74.
- Don't put off cleaning your room, you never know who might pop by for a visit
- Make sure to make memories, even if that means you need to procrastinate
But what is procrastination? According to the website that most university students can thank to some degree for their successful survival of their undergrads, (wikipedia - so lovely really), Procrastination refers to the counterproductive deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite such behaviours as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.There are three criteria for a behavior to be classified as procrastination: it must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying.
One can only assume that the only reason I am posting now of all times is that I am oh so conveniently avoiding studying for my final three exams of my undergrad. While to most people this would seem so exciting and a huge step in my life (which it is), I only wish to delay these exams and studying for them. But why? Why do I want to do this? I have been reflecting on my past three years here - yes I am doing a three year BA - and I realized that I have been in a small bubble this whole time. I have made such tight knit, and close bonds to my school. I have lived on the same residence floor for these past three years and in the same room for the last two. I have worked here and learned the ins and outs of residence life here. I am safe here. I know what I am doing here.
There comes a part in everyone's lives when they need to move on from what they know and move on to what they don't know. What is new. What is terrifying. What is exciting. All I know is living in my teeny tiny room and waking up and saying good morning to 30 first years. All I know is the typical class routine. All I know is that I am so scared. All I know is that I am procrastinating so it feels like I am not leaving what has become home for me in 18 days.
The question comes, where do we go from here? What happens next? Will I get that job I want and know I would love? These are the questions that will be answered along the way. This whole time my life has been perfectly planned to a tee with multiple plan b's. Now is the time that I take that leap, close my eyes and just go. Do what I have never done before...have no idea or control on what happens next. Am I ready? I guess I will find out. Hold my hand, take the leap, we all need to sooner or later.
Lessons Learned
- NEVER leave your 4000 word essays to the night before. It kills you and only gets you a 74.
- Don't put off cleaning your room, you never know who might pop by for a visit
- Make sure to make memories, even if that means you need to procrastinate
I am going to miss this place.
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