It’s always around the holiday times that I find myself pondering the things in my life that I am grateful for. As a student leader in housing or a Resident Assistant, it is important to reflect on the things you are grateful for as well because the job can be demanding and stressful. While I think practicing gratuity should be a part of your life at all times of the year, let’s use the holidays as an excuse to think of the things you can be grateful for within your student leader role.
- Your coworkers: Often it’s the other RAs that make your job memorable and fun. They may be the first ones you reach out to when you need help or someone to cry with or someone to go have fun with. Remind them how much they mean to you!
- Your supervisor: Your supervisor is absolutely doing more than you can imagine, and yet they are always putting time into supporting you and the team. Remind them that you see this and you appreciate them caring well for you and the team.
- Other staff in the office: It takes a whole team of people to support residents. Be thankful for the staff running the front desk, doing the behind the scenes work, or leading the office. Their jobs aren’t easy and often they are less celebrated because they aren’t working as directly with students.
- Your residents: They are why you are here! They may give you trouble, but hopefully they also give you a sense of purpose and some heart warming moments. It will mean a lot to them to hear that you love having them as residents.
- Your support system: Whoever is there for you when times are tough or when you need to celebrate. If that is your family, your friends, your significant other, or others, make sure they know how important it is that you have them in your life.
- School: Be thankful that you get to pursue a higher education degree! Not everyone has access to schooling and it’s a really cool thing that you have this opportunity.
- The dining hall: every school I have worked at, my RAs have complained about the dining hall. No matter your thoughts on it, be thankful that you don’t have to cook or do dishes, and you always have warm food available to you.
- Free housing: We understand the free housing was a huge incentive to this job. Look around your room and remember how fortunate you are to have such a place for free!
This is a short list to get your started. I would encourage you to incorporate gratitude in your life daily. I try to write down three things I am grateful for every morning. To make it more meaningful and thoughtful, I never repeat items on the list. Looking at the world through a lens of thankfulness can help shape a healthier mindset. While you are in a role that involves lots of giving to others, it’s important to also be able to see the gifts you have been given and who gives them. Be thankful this time of year and always!
