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Resident Assistant Reflective Essay

Decent Essays

On a crisp early morning in November I walked to my first class of the day, a student in a dark green sweater ran past me, while I thought nothing of it what I did not know was that he had just stabbed four people. I turned around as two officers in plain clothes chased him and I looked on in confusion as the assailant was abruptly shot and killed. It is often easy to forget the everyday emotions and feelings of the people around us, even more so when these sensations are recounted on the evening news or a few sheets of paper on (of?) a patient's chart. In the weeks that followed that unfortunate event, I searched for some meaning, some way to move on or possibly grow. I found that I could appreciate the depth and significance of each person …show more content…

I had gotten to know Jon and his girlfriend "Dee" well in the past few months, and worry racked through me when I heard them arguing loudly through our shared wall. I planned to let the argument subside before approaching them until I heard Dee loudly demand that Jon get off her. Almost instinctively, I stepped into the required role; I knocked on the door while recalling my violence prevention training. They were reluctant to open the door, but I assured them I was there because I cared about them both and wanted to ensure their safety. It was apparent that they were both emotional, but after diffusing the situation, I let them know to come to me if they needed anything. The next evening Jon and I had a long personal conversation, in which he told me of his struggles maintaining his distance from the rough family environment of which he grew up. My heart ached for him as I listened intently at stories I never would have imagined. Together we created a plan for his future, including a visit to a campus counselor and a post-graduate plan to maintain a healthy distance from the family environment that he considered toxic. I checked in with Dee and Jon regularly, even after they graduated. In a roundabout way, it pushed me further into the pursuit of a career as a physician. Similar to patient experiences, I learned the importance of being responsive and open; qualities that allow others to share their untold stories that may be the key to appreciating their

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