Within the Discipline

I was a residential leader this past school year, and I gained essential leadership
skills and learned a lot from the experience. A few things I improved on or learned about
through my experience as an RL were how to deal with a critical situation, how to create
a bond between a group of dissimilar and unenthused students, and I also improved
greatly within the area of routine desk management. I either learned from the ground up
how to carry out these tasks competently, or improved upon them due to my training and
experience as an RL, and I believe they will all benefit me greatly in the real world.
Being able to remain calm and act swiftly during crisis management are places my skills
were heavily sharpened in during my time as an RL, and something that is extremely
helpful in the real world, as a crisis can occur at any time and place. Learning how to
create bonds and relationships between others is something I learned how to do during
my time as an RL, and something that Im still improving on, as the best way for me to
get better at it is to continue practicing. Finally, I was trained from the ground up on how
to work the front desk, and carry out routine office maintenance and operational tasks.
These are incredibly important skills to have, going into a career, or a job out of college,
because almost every employment opportunity has some kind of clerical work that needs
to be done. I feel confident in myself, knowing that I have been equipped with these skills
this year and can hopefully some day put them to use in my career.
Beyond the Discipline
This year I was very fortunate to be able to take away a lot from my academics
that I will be able to carry with me through graduation. Some of the most important
things I gained this year was a better understanding of crops and their important role in
agriculture as a whole, the accounting skills I gained, and all the real world, hands on
experience I got over the summer at my course credit internship. Since I someday hope to
be an agriculture advocate (sustainable agriculture, at least), it is very important that I
understand the role of crops in this area- even if my main focus is to be livestock. The
business skills Ive acquired thanks to my incredibly challenging accounting class are
ones that I am confident I will be glad I have in the future. Knowing how to run the
business side of an operation may not be anyones favorite part, but its definitely an
important one. Finally, I gained so much experience and understand at my summer-long
internship, about animal sanctuaries and honestly about working in general, and
understanding what its like to be out in the real world.
Beyond Academics
This academic year I had the honor of joining two important organizations that
taught me more about who I am, and how to achieve who I want to become. I was
initiated into Tarleton States Alpha Zeta chapter of the Sigma Alpha professional
agriculture sorority last fall, and I have already grown and developed professionally and
in the name of ag, through the support of my sisters, and professionalism of the national
sorority board. These traits will not only advance my career because I want to work in
agriculture, but because I am learning how to conduct myself professionally and with

poise. The second organization I joined is Tarletons Purrs and Spurs group. We meet
twice a month and take turns feeding the stray cats around campus, as well as
participating in trap-neuter-return programs with them a few times a semester. This is a
great opportunity for me because I am able to develop my responsibility skills with my
weekly independent feedings, as well as grow in the field of animal welfare, which is
where I hope to land a career.
Interconnectedness
Being a residential leader for the 2014-2015 year has definitely shaped and grown
me in many ways. It has molded me to be a better, more compassionate, more effective
leader, but also allowed me to see how in all the areas and ways I have grown this year, I
ma improving as one person, who will be better equipped for the real once she leaves
college.
Global Awareness
I dont carry many biases or stereotypes, as I like to think of myself as a pretty
accepting and open minded person, however I will say a few biases I have hold onto
before are that I sometimes am quick to judge or assume things about people who are not
as open minded as me. Which is many people here at Tarleton. Being an RL has
surrounded me with people like this (even many of my own residents), and helped me
understand that just as I was brought up to be accepting and open minded and its what I
know- they were not brought up that way and they are just being who they know how to
be. I thought I started the year with a pretty deep understanding and appreciation for
cultural activism, but being an RL this year has allowed me to strengthen my
understanding of it even more.
Broader Implications
As residential leaders, I think we often underestimate the importance of our
position, not only here at Tarleton but on a global scale. As residential leaders we have
the power to impact higher education positively- a global issue that is of extreme and
growing importance this day and age. We also have the opportunity to positively impact
the lives of students who will go on to impact the world in many different ways. It is
through these channels that our work here at Tarleton State University will have a global
impact!