I never knew the magnitude of blessings being a front desk worker would bring back in August when I began the position. I remember thinking how wonderful it was going to be to have a job on campus that I could work on homework most of the time. On my first day on the job I stayed an extra thirty minutes after clocking out to help a little freshmen figure out how to connect to the wifi. It was obvious my passion then I just had no idea the intensity of it just yet. The residents had me wrapped around their fingers within a few weeks of working there. I found myself wanting to spend more and more time at work just hanging out than actually working there most of the time.

I learned to know the faces that walked in the hall and began loving most of them. I had to learn the hard way sometimes, not to put off some homework to do at the desk because the residents will always distract you. Some days when I had lost all desire to work on my mounds of homework, the desk turned into a therapy session.I really would not have had it any other way. I am definitely more grateful to have had the desk and lobby surrounded by familiar faces than no one at all. Ironically this job made me love people and I probably always did, but it began to shine with getting to know the residents for who they really are even the cocky ones. I loved having a year full of so much laughter and hard advice when needed. I loved watching them go from these crazy freshmen who were so overwhelmed with the college life and beginning to find their place second semester. The residents helped me in more ways than one most days and challenged me to grow so much as a person. I realized I could not help people if I was not willing to be vulnerable about my messes and still striving to find the joy in them. A good example starts with admitting your mistakes, but showing the world your progress. I wanted to offer all of that to the residents even if I was just the first and last face they saw before they left their home.

"If working the front desk was a class I would've received an A because it was always more than a job in my eyes. If I could go the extra ten miles I would just to know I was making a difference."

It was ALWAYS about the people. Being able to get to know their hearts and loving on them every day of my life. Even when school stressed me out and I got overwhelmed they always had a way of putting a smile on my face. I hate that school got so hectic this semester and I worked less hours because as I was sitting on the couch last Wednesday and everyone is parting ways, I realized all the moments I missed out on. All the times I wish I could've stayed up late and talked instead of studying. All the moments I spent with my best friends after spending all day with them, I could have spent some of that time hanging out in the lobby. At the end of the day I did my best at everything and I don't regret any of it, even if it meant a lot days running on zero sleep it was worth it. This job was the highlight of my junior year because Lord knows my program sucked the joy out of the rest. So the fact is Reade hall, I love you and mostly for your people, who became my people. Even when I felt like I had no one else they were always there. I hope everyone of them goes home this summer knowing they have a part of my heart even, if we barely said two words to each other.I hope they know how much I have prayed for them.

I want to see everyone of them succeed whether they are going to UGA, Kennesaw , Mercer, Georgia Tech, or becoming a "real grown up" they all deserve the best because most of them are some the best people I have ever met. The ones that will be here next year, I look forward to many more nights playing quiplash, taking the pun of every religion or political joke, inspiring you even when I can't inspire myself, and learning to know your hearts more than I already do. So no matter what hall, they live in the next year and the hall I'm an RA in I hope our paths continue to cross for the sake of this beautiful masterpiece we call life. Let's not forget about some of the best RAs I have ever met who made me realize what a blessing this job really is. Honestly, if I can be half as good as them next year I will be satisfied.Someone can feel complete with having their one person, but a life filled with my people leaves for an overwhelming heart. I just thank God for this year and a job that was so much more than I could ever dreamed of.

Thank you for always having your doors open for me to just walk in, so it felt like I was in Camden again. Thank you for listening to me over analyze everything about life even when it was pointless. Thank you for taking my advice even when I had no idea what I just said. Most importantly, thank you for caring about me so in return I could care about y'all more than you could have ever imagined. I could thank so many people for this past year, but there is definitely not enough words in the dictionary to express my gratitude. This may be an ending of one chapter, but a better one is yet to begin next year and I am so beyond pumped. This is what happens when you fall in love with your job you find yourself waking up with so much joy for it each day.