Question: “Are you a new Student Leader?”
Answer: “No, but I wasn’t over here last year, so idk.” – You, probably. (After all, you clicked on this article.)
This response seems casual, but being a returning student leader to a new space is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. You’ve done the job before, but now you’re in a new environment, with different people, challenges, and expectations. That shift can stir up a mix of emotions, especially if you were unexpectedly moved to a new building. With the right mindset, it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences of your leadership journey.
Being a returning live-in student leader is a cool opportunity. Not only are you getting to do the job for another school year and continue to grow your leadership skills with the residents, but also, you have the opportunity to be a peer mentor to your coworkers. It’s likely that many of your coworkers are new to the role, while others are returning to the role. You have new residents, new coworkers, possibly a new supervisor, and in some occasions, a new building. As a returning student leader, you start the year with experience. You know the basics: how to respond to a crisis, how to mediate roommate conflicts, how to plan events that residents actually attend, and so on. That being said, when you’re placed in a new building, it’s easy to feel like you’re starting from square one.What do you do to manage being a returning student leader to a new building?
Release Resentment Over Being Moved
It’s totally valid to feel some disappointment or even frustration about being moved from a community you loved or were deeply connected to. Holding onto that resentment can quietly impact your attitude, your performance, and even your relationships with your new team and residents. Letting go of those feelings doesn’t mean pretending they never existed. It means choosing to focus on the opportunities in front of you instead of what was left behind. When you release resentment, you make room for new connections, growth, and impact in your new space.
My experience- When I was a Community Advisor (CA), I felt like being moved to a different community was a punishment. In reality, the school I worked at had a policy that only 1 or 2 CAs from each hall would be permitted to return to the same hall. Being moved to another building turned out to be a good thing; I likely wouldn’t have decided to get my Masters Degree in Higher Education and go on to be a Community Director if not for the two diverse experiences I had being a CA in two different buildings. What felt a bit like a “punishment” at the time turned out to be a gift!
Celebrate Being Somewhere New
A new building means a new story. You have the chance to shape the culture of your new community, bring in fresh energy, and apply what you learned in your past experiences in a totally different context. It’s exciting to walk into a space where your presence will be new and potentially influential. This is your chance to learn more about how different communities function and broaden your understanding of student needs. Plus, being in a new space keeps the job fresh and dynamic. Even if you had stayed in your building from last year, every year is different! Instead of focusing on the things you dislike about the new building assignment, focus on the positives.
My experience- When I was moved to a different community my 2nd year as a CA, I was suddenly on the side of campus away from all the other residence halls. At first, I was a bit devastated to be so far from my other CA friends living on campus, but it turned out that I was way closer to my classes and I was close to the fitness center…so close that I ended up becoming a fitness instructor a few hours a week to make some money while in college, work on my public speaking skills, and get a good workout in.
Learn a New Supervisor’s Style
Every supervisor brings something different to the table. Instead of comparing them to someone you had before, think of it as a learning opportunity. What new communication or leadership style can you adapt to? How can you challenge yourself to meet new expectations or grow in areas your previous supervisor may not have focused on? This is also a great way to practice real-world adaptability. Learning to work under different leadership is a crucial life skill, and it can actually help you better define your own leadership style.
Having a new supervisor can feel like a wildcard. Maybe your last supervisor was super hands-on, and this one prefers a more hands-off approach. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, it’s an opportunity to learn how to adapt your communication and work style.
Instead of thinking, “Well, last year we did it this way,” try asking:
- “How can I learn from this new approach?”
- “What skills or habits might I develop under this leadership?”
- “What feedback or insight can I get that I might not have received before?”
That’s not to say sharing what you did last year can’t be helpful. If your supervisor is looking for ideas, perhaps you enjoyed an approach last year’s supervisor used that could be helpful to share with them.
Share Your Unique Perspective
As a returning leader, you bring something to the table: experience. You’ve already seen a full year of ups and downs, you’ve been through student leader training before, and you’ve likely developed strategies that helped you succeed. Your insight can be a great asset to newer staff members who are still figuring things out. That doesn’t mean you need to have all the answers, but your presence alone can offer stability and guidance to others on your team. Just be mindful of how you share: be encouraging, not overpowering. Being a peer mentor doesn’t mean telling everyone else how to do their job. It means listening, supporting, and modeling calm confidence. You can say something like: “Yeah, I remember when I felt overwhelmed by this too. Here’s what helped me,” instead of “You should do it this way.”
Enjoy Growth in a “new” opportunity!
Being a returning student leader in a new building is a unique leadership position. You’re not just someone who knows the job; you’re someone who’s growing in the job. You’re navigating change, managing relationships, building culture, and continuing to develop your own leadership style.
The key is to embrace the unfamiliar and let it shape you in good ways. Growth often happens outside your comfort zone. Whether this year brings unexpected challenges, amazing surprises, or both! Trust that you’re in the right place to make an impact. You were chosen to return as a student leader for a reason.
