RA Class Week 9

Hate crimes are something I just can’t understand. I cannot fathom why people are so determined to bring negativity to the world. I cannot fathom why people exemplify the differences within others. I cannot fathom why we hate.

In this world full of variety and difference, everyone seems to be of a different age, race, ethnicity, gender, color, size, shape, orientation, everything. Everyone’s different and no two people are alike. If this is the case, then why are people so obsessed with finding similarities and discriminating against those who are different? Why is it that people must find reasons to dislike others, people they often have never even met? I simply cannot understand this fact.

Within my life, I have not witnessed a lot of hate. I have been raised to treat others equally and I follow that lifestyle and I, as a white heterosexual female, have not been a victim to discrimination. It is not apparent in my life and if it weren’t for so many lessons, documentaries, and programs on the matter, I would not think about it very often. I feel like this is true with most in my generation, at least when it comes to racial matters. When it comes to sexual orientation, it’s a different story. My father is one who greatly disagrees with the homosexual lifestyle and is very against gay rights and legalizing gay marriage. He makes it very clear that he does not want to associate with them, and does not like when I do, but he does not forbid me from it and I do not see him as one who would ever harm a person, even if they were homosexual. It does make the issue clear to me, though, and through the documentary we watched in class, the issue was even further highlighted.

Once again, it amazes me that people can have that mindset, live that lifestyle, and truly hate others they don’t even really know. It amazes me that people that seem kind, shy, and friendly and seem like they could never hurt anyone could suddenly become violent murderers, just because of one trait a person has.

As a resident assistant, these issues need to be made more apparent and clear for me so that I can address them as they come up. I need to look for signs of hate crimes and do all that I can to repair the damage they deal, and even better, prevent them from happening at all. Texas State University is a diverse campus with a wide variety of races, sexual orientations, and ages, and strives to be a friendly place for all to learn and grow. I am partly responsible for ensuring the campus remains this way.

I have witnessed discrimination against homosexuals on campus, in Tower even, and I wish to do all I can to stop and prevent this. That incident in particular greatly awakened my awareness of this awful mindset and has really allowed me to empathize with those facing discrimination. Along with this position and this class, I have become more and more aware of hate crimes and more and more against them.

For now, all I can do is try to make my residents understand each others differences and respect them, not hate them. I can share my thoughts about equality and rights and can express how I feel. For now, all I can do is spread love, not hate.

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RA Class Week 8

It’s interesting how a resident assistant is supposed to be a variety of different characters all within one person. Resident assistants are expected to be students, employees, teachers, mentors, counselors, guides, assistants, and even friends at times. They are meant to discipline, educate, assist, and guide. Within this one position, a multitude of expectations emerges and can sometimes become confusing or overwhelming. One particular expectation is that to counsel.

Many resident assistants believe that it is their job to counsel their residents. While this may be true to some extent, resident assistants are not qualified or expected to fully counsel someone like a trained and professional counselor would. Resident assistants are not in a position to analyze and diagnose their residents, but they are in a position to listen, help, and refer.

Active listening is an important quality that resident assistants must possess in order to truly help their residents. One must be able to listen to what a resident is saying, question for understanding, and repeat back in order to exemplify the understanding. Through listening, a resident assistant can discover more about a situation and learn more about a person. Listening is an incredible tool to use in order to retrieve more information and to understand more. Listening is key in order to help and counsel someone.

When counseling, resident assistants are expected to listen and offer advice in situations that they are comfortable and knowledgeable about such as depression, stress, and homesickness. These situations are common and are experienced by many, possibly even the resident assistant, himself. In these cases, the resident assistant can use prior knowledge and experience and recent training in order to assist the resident. When situations worsen, however, one may not be qualified to help the resident.

All resident assistants have attended training and have learned steps that may help in assisting one with a serious issue. When the resident assistant feels confident and comfortable enough, he may follow these procedures in order to help his resident and possibly even save a life. Sometimes, though, all a resident assistant can do is refer one to receive help elsewhere, such as from the Counseling Center or from a professional counselor. It is always best to resolve a situation in as low and casual of a state as possible, but sometimes it cannot be done.

With so many different characters to uphold and portray, sometimes a resident assistant can feel overwhelmed or feel that he is expected to accomplish many tasks, even ones that he is not actually expected to do. In some cases, it is appropriate for a resident assistant to refer a resident elsewhere for help, simply because the resident assistant is not properly trained or able to actually give help or because the resident is in need of serious, professional help. As part of their personalities, resident assistants often wish to help their residents in every way that they can, but when it comes to counseling, all a resident assistant can really offer is an active ear, a caring and compassionate heart, a thoughtful mind, and the true desire to help the person in any way possible, even if that means allowing him to speak with someone else.

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RA Class Week 7

When leading others and acting as a role model, it is important to show proper citizenship including servant leadership and volunteerism. When volunteering, one sacrifices his own time and talents for charitable, educational, and worthwhile reasons. Donating one’s time and energy for the benefit of others is a powerful way to show others how to give to their community and become an aid to society. Participating in community service also shows this, working for the public rather than monetary compensation. Voluntary work and community service are both vital components that make up a strong leader and role model that each resident assistant should strive to be.

Because resident assistants are leaders within their community and often the “best of the best” among their peers within a university, it is no surprise to me that each person already had community service and volunteer experience within their past. This proves that those who willingly give time and effort to help others tend to rise to success and become leaders within their communities. These are the people to look up to. These are the people to follow. These are the people everyone strives to become.

As a Terry Scholar, I greatly understand the value and importance of giving back. Because I was granted such a godsend through the form of a scholarship, I wish to give back what I have received. I want to help as many as I can and do everything I can to better the community and the lives of others. Although not required, it is greatly expected that I volunteer and give my time as a Terry Scholar and because of this and my desire to give back and help, I am often thrusting myself into new experiences and helping in any way I can. It is through the Terry Scholars Learning Community that I wish to transfer this energy and drive in order to inspire the new freshmen Terry Scholars to give of themselves, as well.

I am proud that within our class, each person had volunteer experience already within their past, ready to be shared. Each one of us knows the importance of giving back and already does so in order to become strong role models and effective leaders. I am inspired by this vast understanding and even interested in joining my peers. I was especially interested in events that directly gave to the needy, such as food drives for the homeless, working with the Salvation Army to deliver food to the needy, and using Meal Trades and swipes left on Texas State students’ ID cards in order to feed those who need help. These causes really intrigue me because they are simple to do and can really change a person’s life. It is so rewarding to know that you’ve helped a person in need.

Although I do not always enjoy putting myself out into the world and experiencing new, foreign, and unfamiliar experiences, I do enjoy giving my time and my energy in order to better the world. Any time I hear of a volunteer opportunity and there is a blank space within my calendar, I am right out there doing what I can and helping in any way possible. I love volunteering, I love community service, and I love helping. Because I am a resident assistant and because I am a role model, I should enjoy these tasks and partake in them often, showing others that giving back is important and helping others is the best gift one could possibly give.

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RA Class Week 6

I will have to admit, this class is starting to wear down on me and make me nervous after these past few weeks. The class is turning out to be more difficult than I was told, which is not exactly a problem because classes are supposed to be challenging to enable one to learn and grow from them, but I was informed that this class was going to be easy-going in order to ease new resident assistants into their first semester on the job, and so far, this is not the case. Talking with returning resident assistants, I have found that the class has actually changed a great deal from previous years and has been made more difficult in the process.

From the beginning, I was told that grading would not be harsh and that homework and assignments would be few in order to help in the transition of beginning a new resident assistant position. After speaking with other new resident assistants, however, I found that we are all being inconvenienced by the class, having to work more than expected and bearing additional stress. When mentioning to returning resident assistants that I am studying for a test within this counseling class, they respond in a confused manner, stating that they didn’t have to take any tests when they took the class. This reveals that the class has transformed and has been made more difficult.

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