Learning Outcomes:
Identifies own strengths and areas for personal growth
Demonstrates having taken on significant challenges and learned new skills
Shows planning and execution of an initiative, project or campaign
Being an RA in a mixed dorm itself is already a challenge for me. Starting from this year, Denali will be a dorm for both genders with girls in Denali 3 and boys in Denali 2. Fortunately, I got to have Anika, my sister as my partner in Denali. To be able to work with her together has given me so much confidence and our endless support and comfort to each other became our strength as an RAs. I have this anxiety when I lead people or when I encounter a problem. It is the fear of not being good enough, not being helpful, and can not provide my dorm mates with good support. However, I have been very lucky as I have many people that trust me as an RA and they helped me to believe in myself. Throughout the year I have been fighting to improve my personal growth and be a better version of myself every time I have a chance to do so.
Before the first year came, I and Anika planned to create this art piece to show who lives in Denali 3. After thinking about some plan, we came to a conclusion to make a tree out of a colored paper with a falling leaves filled with our names. It was our first time planning a project for the dorm and our teamwork continue throughout the year by organizing dorm time. Both of us trying to do what the dorm needs and wants for dorm time. We have successfully organized a meal together, dodge ball, spa night, and others for our dorm. Within the process, I got to know Anika and Nanette better. I also felt I have a better interaction and relationship with my dormmates throughout the semester.
Inside the dorm, I have encountered multiple challenges and issues. Starting from a small one as someone got locked out of their room till a collective problem as a whole Denali about the dayroom. These challenges have taught me to be a quick decision-maker. Having a better understanding of each person in my hallway also other learning objectives. Now I know how to deal with different personalities, how to have a quick decision about some issues, and how to just simply support my people inside the dorms. I learned that everyone has different personalities and preferences about things, therefore as an RA, I need to do my best to accommodate all of them to the best general happiness in the dorm.
Other than my role as an RA in the dorm, it also exceeds outside the dorm in the whole community. When all the residential life staff has a monthly meeting, we discussed a larger issue that presents in other dorms and how we could make an impact within our supervision. This is another challenge for me to play my role outside the dorm. Where doing my job as an RA inside the dorm seems to roll smoothly, being an influencer for the people outside the dorm is a little bit of a hurdle for me. I am not an exact introvert but I do have the fear of how my action could affect other people. I became really careful and precise when it comes to what I said to other people, sharing my thoughts, and my own actions. Being an RA has taught me how to think twice before doing something. It makes me realized my power to support people and help them go through hard times. This semester has treated me lovely and I am looking forward to the last semester of my time in UWC. I will see you next post! Adios~
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