It was new student orientation in the summer of 2012. I was preparing for my first semester in college, and one thing I knew was that I needed a job. So there I was, rocking the cut-off high school football shirt and shorts as well as a fantastic mohawk (do not act like you always made great life choices), when I stumbled upon a booth in the Student Union. There was a representative from the campus residential life office handing out applications for an Office Assistant position. Seeing opportunity I filled out the application right there. After a few weeks and a phone call interview later, I was moving to Brookings a week before school started to begin my training.

Jump ahead four years, and I am wrapping up my last shift as an OA. So, naturally, this has given me some opportunity to reflect on my time here and I would just like to share a few thoughts on my experience with Residential Life.

First of all I am thankful. Thankful for the opportunities I have been given and the people I have met while working here. No, I did not enjoy giving up weekends to sit behind a desk and watch drunk kids try and act cool because they thought I was actually a Community Assistant and they did not want me to get them in trouble. No I did not enjoy being confined to a small space for five-hour intervals just honestly wishing someone would come talk to me. What I did enjoy was meeting just about everyone who walked through the halls I worked in.

I met one of my roommates at this job.

At the front desk is where I met one of my closest friends. I learned about an opportunity for an internship there.

I also got to experience different cultures. This may sound strange to anyone who has never worked for Residential Life, but it is a reality. Before I started working for Residential Life, I had minimal interaction with individuals from different countries. Working for a University with a large body of foreign students, however, allowed me to be exposed to many different cultures and people from different walks of life I would have never been aware of otherwise.

Once again, it was not my favorite job I have ever worked. I am not planning on making it a career out of it, and after this last shift is over, I will never be working for Residential Life again on this campus or any other. I am grateful, however, for it allowing me a chance to grow in every way it did.

I leave this shift with some found memories and some I wish I could forget. I guess you could say it's bittersweet. But in the end…