Martha Guerra

Final ALE Reflection

Within the Discipline
The position as a Residential Leader has helped me connect my
academics with real world experiences by providing the opportunity to refine my
time management skills, hold responsibility with the personal growth of others,
and set an example to others. As a Residential Leader, I was forced to be the
person my residents look up to, and that gave me the push to keep up my
academics in order to set a foundation for the real world later in life.
Beyond the Discipline
My involvement in other organizations on campus as well as back has
helped me with my position as a Residential Leader. Both of these organizations
showed me the importance to work as a team. I applied what I learned with these
organizations with my hallway. I wanted to create an environment where there
was harmony and a sense of community and I successfully accomplished it.
Beyond Academics
My experience with service has helped me with my academics because it
gives me a chance to reinforce my knowledge by helping others with a certain
class that they are struggling with. My residents have come to me on different
occasions asking me for advice on certain academic decisions such as changing
their major or even with struggles that they are having in life.

Interconnectedness
The experiences that I have gathered throughout this year have overall
reflected the way I have grown as an individual. I have learned many lessons
with this position, and I am thankful. It also gave me the opportunity to see how
my residents have grown throughout this year and how they plan on achieving
their goals.
Global Awareness
As a Residential Leader, I have explored different stereotypes such as
Greek life and religious differences. While holding this position, I learned the
value of diversity because every single one of my residents came from different
background and with different life experiences. My mind was definitely opened
throughout this year because many of my residents were involved with different
organizations on campus and also because they also had different interests.
Broader Implications
An issue within the Residential Leader position would be how the housing
department would expect the Residential Leaders to bring residents to a certain
number of events each month. While it is understandable that it is important to
get residents involved, after the first month or so of the semester, most residents
have already found their roots within the university. Also, relaying information to
residents has proven to be difficult at times because of the disorganization of the
housing department.