How To Become A Residential Advisor

I expect a great deal from my time with Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College. I enjoy that I will have an adviser that truly cares about my wellbeing and education, and I believe this will help me succeed as I pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Biology. I hope to become close with the faculty and staff of the Honors College as I strive towards my ultimate goal of becoming a Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon. Although I plan to commute to and from VCU for classes rather than stay on campus, the Honors College dorms are an extreme luxury provided to those students that are qualified. I also am ecstatic about the special classes and curriculum that is available to Honors students. I am pursuing VCU in an attempt to further my education, and I believe the Honors College is my best opportunity to do so. I look forward to exploring all the Honors College has to offer, and I hope it will help me to become a better student, graduate, and person all around.

My passion towards working with students every day has led me to the decision of pursuing a doctoral degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University. I have chosen this program to prepare myself for a future role as a professor or a senior level college administrator. This program will allow me to become more proficient within the students’ educational experience and therefore better engage students in active learning.

During the time between September 2015 and May 2016 I will be exposing myself to the different environments on collegiate campuses in California and Nevada. These experiences will teach me how to communicate more effectively with my peers, promote mental and physical wellness, and influence ethical decision-making among undergraduate, collegiate men.

This paper is separated into two parts that are connected. The first part will cover my beliefs about higher education focusing on my Student Affairs philosophy while integrating theories and work from current or previous successful Student Affairs professionals. The second part will also discuss my beliefs, foundation of my faith, my strengths, my challenges, my beliefs, my values, and my goals.

After reading Sonja Ardoin’s (2014) “the strategic guide to shaping your student affairs career” book, I read a variety of important content that has allowed me to reflect not only in my fieldwork position, as an Advising Assistant for the Puente Program, but also my current status as a graduate student in the Educational Counseling program.

In my senior year of high school, I became the student body Vice President and discovered what it means to be an influential leader on campus. This experience exposed me to develop an array of qualities that can be utilized in the role of being resident assistants (RA). I have gained insightful knowledge of the intricate details necessary to be a productive leader who guides in an encouraging and supportive way. A gift that I posses is my ability to organize creative and innovative ways to build camaraderie among the people I serve. This is crucial and beneficial because it ensures for a safe and welcoming environment where everyone feels confident to seek assistance when needed. As a representative of this university and myself, I bring a dedicated intensity about infusing change by vocalizing the wants, needs, and concerns of the students to make my school resilience to an environment conducive to learning.

Being a Bunker Hill Community College student is not that easy unless you are associated with all the useful and valuable sources provided all over the school. As I seamlessly move from my high school experiences into a two-year college at Bunker Hill, I was so anxious to explore new things in the new college world. After I come to this college, I found that this college has many friendly and helpful resources that help me engaging myself in the new world. For example, I found that the admissions office staff members are very helpful in providing student information. Besides that, the school mentors are also helpful for bringing new students on a tour around Bunker Hill Community College. Furthermore, Life map Centre staff members are also very friendly in helping students organize their study plan and to register for class. The most interesting part is I found a reliable resource called A.C.E Mentor that tremendously could help the students to succeed in their classes.

When I was accepted into the Rappahannock Scholars program in the school year of 2013-2014, I began to think differently and transitioned into a mature young adult. Before entering the program, I had considered the academic qualifications to get into college to be the most important. This program, and the advisor, taught me that colleges look for more than just academic interests. They are also interested in work experiences, leadership opportunities, club memberships, and honors and awards.

Coming to Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in social work has been one of the best things I have done in the year of 2016. I can remember awaiting my acceptance into Virginia Commonwealth University and instantly choosing to attend. For the remainder of my senior year of high school, I couldn’t wait to pack up and leave for VCU. Before I knew it, it was August 20, 2016, move-in day. Aside from leaving my parents and hometown, I was a bit upset about having to quit my job, the anxiety of being a broke college student hit me before I even stepped on campus. On move in day I was a bit anxious and a little nervous to leave my parents but at the same time I was ready to leave and explore something new on my own.

During this stressful season of college applications, I feel that I have an advantage over my classmates. The majority are terrified, searching desperately for a school for them. I, however, am calm. I have been a Hokie fan for my entire life, and dreamed of attending the university for nearly that long. My family is constantly traveling to Blacksburg to cheer on the football team or to enjoy the local food, and I know that nothing would make my mother prouder than seeing me graduate from her alma mater one day. Even if I had no prior connection to Virginia Tech, I would have eventually decided it was the right place for me. It has a beautiful campus full of innovative and wonderfully diverse students. If someone has an ingenious idea that

I will be administering the McNair High School’s mentoring program under the direct supervision of Mr. Ware. The program will consist

The thrill of moving out for college, the new profound independence that one encounters once they indulge themselves in the undergraduate experience is something I’m yet to experience. ASU recommends every Freshman to live on campus at least their first year of college and to join various clubs and organizations in order to fully enhance the undergraduate experience. Unfortunately, I couldn’t partake in that tradition, due to financial problems, I haven’t yet had the privilege of living on campus. Throughout my undergraduate career thus far, not living on campus has been a huge burden that often prevents me from being able to attend beneficial events that will help me in my future. If I’m selected into the McCord Scholars Program, it will greatly

Successful college experiences revolve around three major areas: the transition, being successful in classes/schoolwork, and involvement. These three areas have been determined from my work in the Housing and Residential Programs Department for the past three years, as this is my first lass focusing on student development theories. The three areas are must all be present in some way, shape, or form in order for success. The first step is the transition from high school to college. This is inclusive of moving away from home, and entering into an entirely different miniature society. Incoming students need to learn to adapt to their new surroundings, develop relationships, and a find their support system. Adaptation is important, for many

My work in student affairs provides significant opportunity to contemplate, implement and assess initiatives related to student success and retention. My current research is connected to peer education and the 1st year experience and I have active and growing experience in the needs assessment and

Student personnel point of view encompasses the student as a whole. The concept of education is broadened o the student’’s well rounded development- physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually as well as intellectually. (sppv) Student affairs not only emphasize on academic excellence but to shape each individual as a unique human by providing a holistic learning and living environment. Student Affairs professionals play a pivotal role in the development of the students. By applying different theories in student development, they can foster student learning to help them shape their identity. Student affairs staff members must view themselves as educators to refute the belief that learning is held only in the classroom. (contested issue, 29). Learning does not only occur in the classroom but through out of class activities as well. Student affairs staff should talk about student learning and development to enhance the multiplicity of growth areas for students in higher education. These learning and development experiences do not simply happen to students. They happen with their active involvement. There are numerous branches of fields in student affairs that attend to the unique needs of each individual. Residence Director trains Residence assistance to cater to the needs of first year students who are new to the college environment. RA plays a major role of introducing the life of college through building relationships and community to help them develop their sense of