Photo provided by Annie Schneider
There are not many people that constantly have a bright aura surrounding them like Annie Schneider does. If anyone was destined for the job of becoming an RA, it would be Annie. Here is her journey of what being chosen to become an RA was like.
Annie is a freshman majoring in Interdisciplinary Social Science (ISS) and minoring in leadership. When asked how her experience with leadership correlates with becoming an RA, Annie mentioned how she sees her relationship with the students living on her floor, not only teaching them, but also learning from them in return.
“I’m basically being paid to be a role model and a friend, but also knowing how to balance with being an authoritative figure is an important part of this job,” Annie said.
Annie also talked about her inspiration for becoming an RA being drawn from Dr. Gardiner Tuck, the Interim Regional Associate Vice Chancellor. She said their conversations about the process and his advice for her to go for it and become one were a driving factor in her decision to apply. The RA’s are still in the early stages of training, but they have started to become acquainted as a group by playing ice breakers to get to know each other and other team building exercises.
In the upcoming fall semester, Annie will be the RA on the fifth floor of the USC (University Student Center) for the Leadership Living and Learning Community (which she will have previously lived in as a freshman in the program).