Description
After my first year of college at Carnegie Mellon University I became a resident assistant for a floor of Hamerschlag House. This job presented a unique challenge as it was a very social endeavor unlike anything I had encountered to that point. During my time as an RA I learned how to navigate tremendously complicated inter-personal conflicts while not immune to growing pains experienced by all college students.
- 2016-17: Hamerschlag 3A
- 2017-18: Mudge C2
Responsibilities
- Supervise 30-40 first year residents during their transition to college
- Create a welcoming environment
- Create and lead weekly programming to engage residents
Lessons Learned
- The quickest way to gain influence is to genuinely care about others
- Be yourself – those who are not are quickly sniffed out
- Consistency matters
- Some people will never be friends but a non-combative middle ground always exists