I am a residential assistant at Texas State University, and I never really took on a leadership role when I first came to college. I knew how to survive and that was it, but as the years continue I see myself finally transforming into the leadership role which all my friends since elementary have seen within me: A leader that can keep his followers motivated.
I took the residential assistant position at Texas State University to help myself engage in the campus events. As a freshmen I was going to class, socializing within my residence hall, and working at the grocery store (HEB), with at least friday and saturday back home with my family. I never was a family person, I just wanted to do laundry for free. After a short time going home meant working at HEB, as I transferred store locations.
Speed time up and that brings me to this most recent year. I don’t know what it was but something changed within me before summer started. After having an entire summer to recollect myself I started to realize I wanted more from working at HEB during the summer, I wanted to become a manager if possible. I ended up learning and teaching others and in the end I began to show signs of a leader. But sadly before I could realize my leadership at HEB, the RA (residential assistant) job called me. That brings us to this spring semester.
This semester is a little different than last semester as there were plenty of veteran RAs on staff, including myself, but this semester we lost half of our staff. I will say I have skills that need improvement on but I’ve come to realize that by providing a presence in my residence hall, I have established myself as the “go-to” RA for my staff and for residents in the hall. Now I never meant to take on responsibility indirectly, but this semester I have had no choice. After countlessly trying to be passive and let others thing for themselves on solving situations, I’ve come to realize I am a leader.
I am a passive leader, but a strict and serious one. I have finally managed to fine-tune my strengths and recognize my weaknesses and fix them or improve on them. No longer do I stand back for countless hours observing trying to think of what to do, I don’t react immediately either. I am the leader that listens but jumps in to keep details straight. I am the leader that people saw in me and because I am now the leader I was meant to be, I feel it is only appropriate that I acknowledge it. As such I will be attempting to advance in my job here at Texas State University as an RA to Senior RA (a supervisor for RAs on staff). I will challenge myself and place forth the ability I know I have to become a senior RA.
I am a leader, which no one can take away or break down. I have leadership in eyes of many, but I am the leader of so many more. I am a Leader.
Filed under: education, REALIZATION, college, Colleges and Universities, education, ra, resident assistant, texas state university, Texas State University–San Marcos
