Settling In

I'm finally starting to really settle into things in Columbus, I think.

(I say as I'm writing this from my room at my Dad's house because I have escaped Columbus for the weekend for a much-needed trip off campus. August happened, August is over, and now I am in post-August recovery.)

One of the things I have been looking forward to in my office was finally putting up all of the door decs from the past two years at Kent. While I was an Assistant Residence Hall Director at Kent I helped to oversee two RA staffs, the first had 8 RAs, the second 12. Each of these RAs made me a door dec. The ones that did not fall apart when I took them off of the wall are the ones that have survived to Capital.

As I hung each door dec up I remembered each person who had made them. Different conversations I'd had with RAs during one on ones... different events we had all worked on as a group. The boys on the Sto/Jo staff calling me "Mom" last year (speaking of, I need to find my "Mom" award that they gave me). The staff meetings and the laughter...and the feeling of knowing I was in the right field. I have a door dec that an RA my first year made me for my second year and I remembered how cool it felt to have RAs doing that for me even when they weren't on my staff anymore.

Realizing that I made an impact on these students, even if just for one year, is a powerful feeling.

I have with me at Capital all of the notes, cards, and wonderful things that I got from my RAs over the past two years. My graduation card from my staff last year and the picture of all of them with the frame that they signed. Whenever I'm feeling down or feeling like I can't do this...I just look at those and remember a time where a scared first year grad student with no res life experience became a hall director...hit the ground running...and hasn't looked back.

I'm a huge believer in remembering my past because it's what has made me who I am today. Each and every person at Kent helped to shape me into the professional I am today. Each RA I supervised or had the chance to know or work with made an impact. Every professional staff member, whether they directly supervised me or not, has helped shape me into the person I am today. I was blessed to have two absolutely amazing supervisors at Kent who helped to shape and mold me into who I am as a res life professional. I am blessed now to have an amazing and supportive supervisor and co-workers at Capital who will only continue the process started by those in Kent.