Redhawk Hockey

I went to a Miami hockey game with a few of my RAs. It's a bit crazy being in the student section. Everyone stands the whole time and there is a cheer for everything, usually inappropriate but even the band and announcer get into it. It's a cool experience going to a Division I game with a decent amount of school spirit.

Furloughs

One of the classes I am taking is a foundation course called Educational Leadership and Organizational which discusses why Student Affairs is a unique organization. We were discussing how college and universities are like a bubble where many times students aren't aware of external changes. One example of how some times there are changes was furlough. Ahhh, my heart stopped a bit.

Wednesday Nights = Staff Nights

Half way through the second week of classes and half way through Resident Assistant interviews. Had dinner and then coffee with the wonderful Kira Newman. It is such a blessing to have Kira here. We can talk about all the class and work stuff, friends from Sonoma, and everything else with life and we both just get it. It is crazy to think how much our friendship has grown from sophomore year of college till now and how much closer we are. I am extremely lucky to have her in my life. I don't get to see her nearly as much as I wish with our busy schedules but when I do I feel ready to take on grad school.
After dinner and coffee was staff meeting with my incredible RAs. For a fun staff activity we asked each other questions from the book in the picture. Gotta love all the clever jokes they are able to come up with. Highlight of my week every week.

Chicago Student Trip

Today we started by a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio, followed by the show "In the Heights," and then ended with Chicago pizza. Students seemed to enjoy learning and experiencing the city.

Lets Try This Again

I did not do well this last semester with updating the blog but it is a new year so I am going to try this again. I just finished the first week of the fall semester. Right now I am chaperoning a school trip with the Celebrate the Arts community of Miami. We are currently at Sears Tower where we were given a very warm welcome.

It Has Begun

I know it has been a while. The craziness has ensued. To try and make up for it I have some pictures to share.

Havighurst Hall. 300 Residents. 11 RAs. My home for the next year.

 

This was our opening check-in station. Miami has moved to electronic cards that are very similar to Sonoma's. One difference is that with Miami's system if a resident locks themsleves out they can text a number and a satellite will unlock their room automatically. Needless to say Miami is very fancy. It has been very different living in a traditional hall but I am liking it so far.

Jess, Delaney, Andrew, and Trish. Some of the RAs at check-in.

These are the two RAs I directly supervise. Robin who is a Senior and wants to be a teacher (she is looking into Teach for America) and Ray is a 2nd year and starting to get more involved and declare his major.

After move in we had an All-Hall meeting. These are some residents that live in the hall.

Full RA staff. From Left: Robin. Jess. Jim. Graham. Shelly. Delaney. Ray. Trish. Kyle. Kristen. Andrew

Adam (my supervisor) and I

For a little fun and to get out of the "ox box" I got to go to a Reds v Cubs game. A family had extra tickets so for $5 I got to sit in the field section on the third base line.

I went to the game with two of my favs Zak and Ashleigh. Zak is HUGE cubbies fan.

This weekend was Community Council Training. This is Andrew and Kyle, the two RAs that help me advise.

It is a tradition that every year someone wins a jar of pickles ( no one seems to know why) and this year Andrew won.

Havighurst Community Council. Our theme was "90s Cosby Sweaters" and we won best dressed. Great day overall with great people.

 Classes are going amazing as well. I have definitley "drank the koolaid" and I am really enjoying Foundations of Students Affairs and Theory. Just finished with Kegan and a little Marsha Baxter-Magolda (of course). My life is consumed with work and reading but I really can't complain other than not having the time to keep in touch but know I am always thinking of you all and miss you so much!!!

They're Coming

I do not have any fun pictures to post but I wanted to give some updates since it has been a while so pictures to come.

Since the last post I have been able to move into Havighurst. Still not completely unpacked and there is still a lot of construction but it is nice to finally be in my hall. We finished the professional staff training and last weekend the Resident Assistants moved in which meant their training started and we have been going 8 to 8 everyday and then after that I have to work on various stuff so it has been a bit crazy. I really like my staff. All 11 of them bring something different. They are very excited but not in an overwhelming way. They have been really good about bonding and working on all of their tasks. Training is very different here than when I was a CSA at Sonoma. During the day is mostly outside speakers like Athletics coming in to do their spiel and then at night is when we actually do training about things such as programming, opening meetings, roommate agreements, etc. Training has taken over my life so I am excited for it to be over soon.

Classes start a week from tomorrow! Books for 2 of 3 classes are ordered and I am very excited. I don't know if I am ready because all I have been thinking about is Residence Life but I will get there. As soon as my office is set up I will feel better. I am also getting to teach a first year transition course (for Sonoma UNIV 102). I do not have a peer mentor but I am excited to work with students in a different way.

I have made some really close connections with a few individuals over the past weeks. Ashleigh is from New York originally and worked in Virginia this past year full time as a hall director. She brings this great outlook on life and a whole different way of thought. She is a great person to talk to for advice and interact with about personal development.  Zak is from Illinois and he just graduated from Western Illinois but he took a year off to work on the Obama campaign (how cool is that!). His area of study is men's development and has a great point of view coming from a heterosexual male perspective towards Woman and LGBTQ issues. Erika is from Massachusetts and graduate from an all woman's school. It has been really interesting to get to talk to her about feminism and woman's issues. I am really looking forward to getting to know them all better.

Wednesday we have early arrivals, Thursday is opening, and this weekend is stacked full of events. I am really interested to see how 17,000 people are going to live in this small town which is basically just one main street that consists of three blocks. I am very curious what the student population is going to be like. I have heard they are some of the most priviledge students (I don't know if I mentioned that there are services where students can have someone clean their room and do their laundry every other week). Things are about to get interesting.