Congratulations! You made it to your freshman year of college! Maybe you are here for the great program, location, or scholarships. Whatever it is - I am thankful for whatever led you here. This year you will grow, change, and learn- not just about your major, but also the people around you, the world in general, and most importantly, about yourself. This might sound cliché, but I believe that there is a reason you are here. Maybe you will meet the love of your life, or get set up with an internship that will provide you with your “adult” job after graduating. Regardless, I am thrilled to see where this journey takes you. The best part about me being your Resident Assistant is that I get to be there with you every step of the way.
What is a Resident Assistant? I like to say I am a parent, teacher, counselor, doctor, police officer, and a friend all in one. Whatever it is that you need, I am here to help you find a solution. That could be advice, a shoulder to cry on, or someone’s refrigerator to post your grades on. I also enforce the policies of the campus community within the residence hall. In order to do this efficiently, it is important to remember that I do not just document people to be annoying and get you in trouble. In fact, I really dislike having to do the extra paperwork to document someone. Every policy that I enforce is to keep you safe. Please understand that your safety and comfort in your new home is of the utmost importance to me.
My advice to you is to take advantage of every opportunity you are given. Get involved on campus. Read the Student Handbook. Fall in love with your major. Do not be afraid to try new things. Remember that you are here to be a student first. Take responsibility for your actions. Respect everyone. Go to class and tutoring. Take the time to do something good for just yourself. College can be the best time of your life if you let it. Too much of a good thing can very quickly become a bad thing, so balance your social and academic lives. If you follow this advice, I guarantee you will have an absolutely fabulous year.
Now, go forward and conquer. This year is what you make of it, so prepare to jump right in.
