As the year slowly comes to a close, you are eying the finish line. You have focused all year on your residents. You hosted programs (likely including an ice cream night), created bulletin boards, been a listening ear in times of crisis, and supported students through some of their worst moments while on call. Through it all, you were a student too. You had to complete homework, pass your exams, and write papers. You have done an impressive job to say the least, but you have likely felt incredibly busy. I hope you took a couple of moments for yourself too.
A supervisor of mine once told me “The days are long, but the years are short” in reference to one’s time at college. I am sure you have had many long days (and nights on call). Many of these days likely feel like ages ago, and the details are already being scraped from your memory as you are instead thinking about summer vacations/internships. While it is normal to forget the details of the first program you hosted, the questions you answered during floor meetings, and the themes for your bulletin boards, I want to help you create a way to remember the small moments as they fly by. These moments are ones that you will one day cherish and may help you land your first full-time role after college.
So, I challenge you to find a way to not only make your mark on your residents but leave an impression on yourself too by completing the following reflection activity. Before I go into the activity, I ask that you please try not to view this as just one more assignment to complete on your lengthy to-do list. You are a human being, not a human doing. I would not suggest the activity if I did not think the process of doing it was not worth the reward. So, while this activity will require some work on your part, it will reduce future stress as you apply for post-graduate programs and jobs.
This activity is the opportunity to make a digital collection of your year. The specifics of this activity can vary depending on your experience as an RA and your future goals, but at the minimum, I ask that you reflect on the following questions:
- What are some of the hard things you have done in this job? Think about on call response, interpersonal conflicts, balancing your schedule, administrative tasks, programming, etc.
- List 3-5 examples.
- Look at the items you listed above.
- Write 1 or more transferable skills that specifically match what you have accomplished this year.
- Think about a time when you did not follow the expectations of the department, your supervisor, or yourself. What was it?
- When employers ask about a time you made a mistake, they are really looking to see how you take feedback and grow. Explain how you did that in the above example.
- On a different note, most of the work you have done has been great. What is the moment you are most proud of this year? Similarly, tell me about the biggest impact you had on someone this past year?
- Much of the great work you did this year was in a team setting. Tell a story about working in a team and share how you achieved a specific goal. Highlight the successes/challenges and the role you played within the team.
- In a lot of positions, you are asked to mentor or supervise another employee. Tell a story about how you mentored someone this year.
After reading through these questions, it is okay if you do not immediately have a response for each one. It is better to take some intentional time so you can remember the details rather than rushing the process. Your best responses are unlikely to be your first idea. So, let the questions sit with you. Let the answers come forward as you think about the past year on a month-by-month basis. Maybe review the photos in your phone and see which programs and bulletin boards you photographed. Include these in your digital collection! Then, if you are stuck, ask a fellow team member or supervisor how they view you in relation to one or more of these questions.
As you host your last program of the year, I hope you have your best attendance yet. I hope your residents not only come for some free food, but they also stay to cherish the memories they made along the way. I also hope that you have taken some time for yourself. I trust that you have created a way to remember the nuance you worked through this year. Whether your last program has pizza, ice cream, or anything in between, I hope you enjoy that last bite and have a way to remember it too.
Guest Post by Yoke Tassent, Residence Life Professional
