Erika Helmsberger: Adapting To University Life

Adapting to university life can be difficult. Erika Helmsberger had a rocky start to college, but in the short amount of time since this school year started, I’ve seen her develop into one of the most thoughtful and compassionate students on our floor. Erika has not only shown her ability to adapt to a new environment, but also her ability to help others find their place.
There’s a whiteboard on Erika’s door where she regularly writes questions for other residents to answer. The board often asks something simple such as a favorite song, but they let residents take some time to stop and think. I often see Erika hosting movies with a handful of other residents in her room. Erika does not think twice about sharing her space with other residents if they feel more comfortable around her. She almost always has her door open and helps the floor have a welcoming atmosphere. Simple things like this help create community, and for Erika, it seems to come naturally. …show more content…
Just in September I’ve seen Erika reach out to the students in our hall who feel most out of place. She is confident in her ability to make people feel comfortable, but never hesitates to reach out for help when she is in over her head. Recently, a resident opened up to Erika that she was going though some really rough emotional things. As someone who deals with her own mental health issues, Erika knew that the resident was looking for help and took the initiative to reach out to an ARD, the counseling center, and me, her RA to make sure that the resident got the help she needed. Erika has made the extra effort to make sure that that resident continues feels welcome and accepted after she received professional help. Erika handled the situation with a calm and level head while still showing that she was emotionally invested in the other