An RLC reflects: Why my work matters

Friday mornings are often the hardest day of the week for a Residential Learning Coordinator. On Monday, Fridays are the days for hopes. These hopes are nothing profound, just hoping to be able to knock out multiple things from our to-do lists; planning for next week's staff training; getting caught up on committee work; taking time to read some current literature related to higher education. Yet, almost always that free time is filled by week’s end with student follow-ups, conduct meetings, and managing student issues. Thus, Fridays are often bittersweet and exhausting.

It was with excitement that I found two of my Resident Advisors left me 'to-do' lists upon my arrival in the office one Friday morning in late March. Molly Besso had instructed me to “give her a raise,” “get a dog,” and “purchase fake glasses from Urban Outfitters.” Lea Neumann had instructed me to “buy her coffee” and “play walleyball.” While simple requests, these two to-do lists made my day. The Friday I saw these was filled with addressing student concerns and meeting with students going through challenging situations. My mind was focused on those meetings and I was mentally preparing for a long, draining day. The end of the spring semester is always low energy for me as the demands of the academic year have finally taken their toll. Those to-do lists reminded me of the good work that needs to be done.

These to-do lists served as a needed reminder of why I do this work. I came to Virginia Tech to work with and for students. Reminders like these from students, however small, make the challenging days worth it. I have been fortunate to work with amazing students in my two years at Virginia Tech and Molly and Lea stand out as some of the ones I've built strong connections with.

Watching students grow and evolve over the course of a semester, year, or multiple years is incredibly rewarding. Seeing students reevaluate their beliefs, thoughts, and ideas about how they are interacting with the world reinforces that the work I and my colleagues in Student Affairs are doing matters and is vital to a full collegiate education. With Lea, I have seen her think critically about what it means to be a high achiever in a caring role where she can be called on to support students through unimaginable crises. Molly has been navigating how to meet the demands of her academics while being a RA. Being able to support and challenge each of these students has been rewarding, especially as they evolve their understandings of who they are and who they want to be.

In the fast-paced nature of being a Residential Learning Coordinator, reminders of why we do this work are not only important but rejuvenating. The work of Student Affairs educators is of planting seeds; when we get to see those seeds blossom that is worth more than any position, compensation, or award. Watching students “get it” and take ownership of their lives, destinies, and outlooks is why all of us in Student Affairs are here engaging in this hard work. In whatever way we are reminded of that, whether it be from a conversation with a student in crisis or a comical sticky note, does not matter; what does matter is Student Affairs educators taking time to sit with that reminder of why so we can get back up and start checking things off on our never-ending to-do lists to ensure our students are cared for and supported so they can be better versions of themselves.