My Residential Life Work

Few people would be surprised to find that it is simple to search the definition of counseling on any active web browser. As expressed on Google, counseling is defined as “The provision of assistance and guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems.” When I read this definition, it does not bring personal meaning to the word as I view it. I define counseling as various aspects of working with people, helping those cope and understand with what life continuously presents, and by the individuals that I have seen benefit from this practice. Counseling does not only impact the recipient of the process, but the advisor as well. I had this realization while working one on one with a high school student who now understands his …show more content…
As i have mentioned previously working with freshman in their transition into college, but also being able to see them transform into who they are has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the position. Residential Life is not cut out for everyone, as it requires higher level processing abilities such as being open minded, empathetic and accepting the entirety of what the job can entail. It also comes with the gruesome details, for example, when I was on my way to class and yet again there was underwear hanging from the lobby ceiling fan, or when we knew the boys on the first floor had pooped in the dryer for the third time, Or when we lost a resident to alcohol poisoning 3 weeks after opening. Residential life encompassed hard times, but through the good and the bad I’ve enjoyed all of it. As an RA, I had a resident come into my room, who would usually always come in to chat about anything and everything. In this instance, she had closed the door, I am not realizing how serious this conversation was going to be. She got to talking and as I was obliviously folding some laundry, she stated “Hannah you know that boyfriend back home I’ve been telling you about?” and I replied “Yes, the one you stalk that works at old navy?” She laughed and said “Well that boyfriend is a girl”. Pause. I think back to this moment a lot, and to my transition when I first moved from California to Texas to be a Hall Director. I think about my transition to an area that is not as progressive from where I grew up. I think about some of the issues faced by Resident advisors I supervised, and the religious presence that resides there. What I trying to say is, I think about what if my resident had a different advisor, one who said “I’m sorry I don’t agree with that” or asked her to leave. This is one of the reasons I want to continue to work with students, I want to be the person they feel comfortable with, the