Raymond Rieling

Introducing Raymond Rieling: HCC’s last Campus Celebrity this semester. You may know Ray from the emails we get from SGA, or maybe you’ve seen him around the gym getting ready for swim practice, but you may not know exactly what he does or how he does it. Read on to find out!

Tell us about what exactly you do in SGA. Why did you want to get involved?

RR: On SGA I am the Publicity Chair, so I am a non-voting member of Presidents Council and sit on the executive board. I am basically in charge of working with the publicity committee to get the word out about what SGA is doing around campus. I also help to plan some events and work on other little projects here and there. I wanted to get involved with SGA back when I was a freshman because I liked the idea of being able to have an impact and change things on campus, and hopefully to leave it a little better than I found it.
             
What are your goals for SGA next semester? 
 
RR: For next semester I would really like to do a better job at creating two-way communication between the student body and SGA. It would be great if we could better listen to what students want to see done and then act on it. I would also like to help better familiarize students with the various ways that SGA can help them, and what we’re up to day-to-day on campus.  
 
What’s the swim team like? 
 
RR: The swim team is a lot of fun but also a lot of hard work. We swim tough practices everyday (and most mornings too) in the pool, but then we joke around and laugh at dinner afterwards. It’s a nice balance of hard work and playing hard, and it’s great to have a support network of other people who are going through the same thing as you when practices or schoolwork gets tough.  
 
 
How do you juggle swimming, SGA, and school work? 
 
RR: It just kind of comes down to time management. To be honest I often get better grades in swim season. I know that I have to be efficient with my work because I have practice in the evenings and I don’t have time to mess around. It’s definitely not the easiest thing, and I admit I do disappear a bit between the months of November and March, but you get good at figuring out what is necessary to do and what you can cut out of your routine.  
 
Do you have any plans after graduation? If not, what do you hope to do? 
 
RR: As of now I don’t have any concrete plans, but I am hoping to get a job as a field organizer for the Obama Campaign in Northern Virginia. I had an internship over the summer doing that, and as of now VA has budget to hire more organizers in late May which would coincide perfectly with graduation. Fingers crossed!
 
Any tips during exam week for our readers? 
 
RR: When it comes to studying, find a strategy that works best for you and stick with it. Everybody learns in different ways and trying to do something that isn’t right for you is bound to be a waste of your time. Finals are a stressful time, don’t let other people’s study habits stress you out more just do what’s best for you.
 
Anything else you’d like us to know about you? 
 
RR: I drink my coffee black, love the New York Yankees, Bruce Springsteen, and America. But on a more serious note if anybody has any questions about SGA, athletics, or just Colby in general I’m more than happy to talk to them. After four years here I’m full of hot air on the topic.

Thanks Ray! We have our fingers crossed for you too, good luck!