The Next Chapter

After 2 years, I finished my last week as a Student Assistant for Residence Life! Although I may be sad to leave as an assistant, I am proud to say that I would not be beginning my position as a Resident Advisor without that valuable experience. Not only did I learn administrative skills, I learned about the inspiring Residence Life Team that works so hard to create community!

I can genuinely say that all the staff members are truly passionate because they understand the difference they make to the residents on campus. The Residence Life Team took me under their wing and watched me grow as an administrative assistant and student leader! Before letting me spread my wings they introduced me to the new Student Assistant, MaLissa.

After meeting MaLissa I immediately could tell they hired a very motivated addition to the team! She came in already possessing many skills and remaining open to learning more. I am so grateful for the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and advice to such an eager individual. I am even more excited about the new friend that I made!

These are just a few examples as to why Student Affairs makes me smile so much.  Do you know of many jobs that give you the opportunity to give back to the community which helped you grow so much? How many coworkers do you admire or consider some of your closest friends? Exactly.

Want to go to CSULB?

Want to go to CSULB? This is the question I asked myself when researching degrees for Higher Education and Student Affairs. It was also the question my friend Corey spontaneously asked me after we went kayaking in Long Beach last weekend. Since CSULB is one of my top choices for graduate school in California, of course I had planned on visiting…when I was a little more prepared.

I had not yet scheduled an official tour or a meeting with a faculty member from the graduate program. Instead, I traipsed onto campus with my friends in our still damp bathing suites and board shorts.

We started out driving through the campus in my friend’s car and I could picture myself going to class on this breezy campus. After passing by the residence halls, we noticed that they had an Alamitos Hall almost identical to the one at Cal Poly Pomona. We decided to check it out! Soon we were scoping out other places on campus to pop on by, including the College of Education. Before I knew it, we were out of the car taking pictures!

This experience reminded me of another day at the beach with my family when I was a kid. I asked if I could just get my feet wet but slowly inched closer to the water until I “accidentally” fell in. I guess I have always loved to be close to the water. Wouldn’t it be amazing if my love for both the water and Student Affairs lead me to attend graduate school by the beach? Go Beach!

The Beginning of an Adventure!

Three years ago I convinced my parents (and myself) that I was ready to take the step to move out and live on a college campus. When I moved into my residence hall at Cal Poly Pomona, my stomach was turning. At that time I did not realize that living on campus would change my life in ways that I could not even comprehend. Eventually...I caught the Student Affairs bug.

During my last three years I lived in three very different residential communities including the traditional residence halls (not “dorms”), the Center for Regenerative Studies, and the residential suites. I continued to be an active leader within housing organizations including Welcome Week, the National Residence Hall Honorary, and InterHall Council. As a Student Assistant for the Residence Life Team, I even learned about the administrative side of housing services. All of these experiences, along with my mentors, have cultivated my passion for leadership within Student Affairs.

Within a couple of short weeks I start training as a Resident Advisor, a role I have admired since my first year in college! I am also in the process of applying for graduate programs for Student Development in Higher Education. I am excited to continue to work with dedicated student leaders and staff members in order to help build a community that residents can call “home”. I cannot wait for this next part of my journey I am about to embark on!