Alexander Deiongh
Age: 20
Hometown: Highland Park
Major: Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Year: 2nd (Sophomore)
Her Campus UCLA: You seem to be active in a number of on-campus organizations, particularly the ORL (Office of Residential Life) program. In High School did you think you were going to be this involved with Residential life/university organizations in general or was it something you decided on during your first year?
Alexander Deiongh: As a second year, I have been involved with quite a number of different things but I’ve selected the few that I felt most attracted me. Aside from my involvement as a student leader within ORL, I am currently involved with the Mixed Student Union at UCLA and Campus Crusades for Christ. To be completely honest, when I was in high school, I had NO IDEA that I would be so involved with Residential Life or with the University in general. I was not too heavily involved with leadership throughout high school. I was only interested in sports. When I came to UCLA, I was attracted to various organizations and groups that impacted my development as a student and as a person. These were the involvements that I invested in most. The Office of Residential Life was one of the most significant reasons why I enjoyed my 1st year. ORL strives to develop residents in many aspects through its countless initiatives across the hill (residential life). I have experienced this first hand as a 1st year and, as a result, dedicated myself to ORL as a second year and will be beginning my 3rd year as a RA (Resident Assistant).
HC UCLA: When you are an RA next year is there anything you are particularly excited for?
AD: I will be an RA the entire next year beginning in Fall of 2012. I must say that I am extremely excited for EVERYTHING RA related! I have desired to be an RA since I first interacted with my RA as a 1st year and I am just looking forward to having the same relationship with my residents that I had with my RA. I want to be able to assist with the development of individuals and a community by catering to the need of my residents and assisting them in the best of my potential.
HC UCLA: Based on your experience with the ORL program are there any changes you would like to make during your future year(s) as an RA or any programs you would like to repeat with your future residences?
AD: I will definitely focus on community building to start the year off. From personal experience, I have noticed that residents are more prone to longer lasting relationships when they are initiated at the beginning of the year. Additionally, I will make sure to include many stress relieving programs throughout the year. Programs that require physical activity such as yoga, dancing, and martial arts, are especially successful. My previous RA arranged massage programs every quarter, which I will definitely repeat for my residents in the future. Additionally, I will seek to create new programs that I have not yet planned as a student leader and aim to create programs that will challenge my abilities.
HC UCLA: What do you enjoy most about being involved with ORL?
AD: I mostly enjoy the everyday interactions with people. The ORL community consists of so many wonderful people that I feel very comfortable working with. Even aside from the ORL staff, however, the common interactions with residents as one of their representatives is such a wonderful opportunity and very enjoyable. I would have to say that this is my favorite part about being a part of ORL. Serving as a representative for residents motivates me to try my absolute best in taking the role that I have within ORL very seriously and as a result, it hardly seems like labor to me; I enjoy every moment of it!
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HC UCLA: What do you consider the most valuable lesson you learned from college so far?
AD: The most valuable lesson I have learned in College so far is: Time is valuable. I feel that time is the one thing that most, if not all, college students desire. It took me over a year in college to realize that time is so valuable (and limited). Time determines how efficiently we perform in so many aspects. For example (probably the most common example), if we had more time to study, wouldn’t that be wonderful? How much would our grades rise (well so would the curve so that’s kind of redundant but that’s not the point!)? With more time, how much improvement would we see in the many areas we are involved in? We’d be able to take our time with so many responsibilities. But the fact is, time is limited. So manage it wisely and make the most of the time you have!!!
HC UCLA: Between being busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars, is there anything you wish you had more time for?
AD: I wish I had more time to socialize. I spent the majority of my 1st year making friends and just “hanging out.” This kind of got me behind in schoolwork. Now that it is my second year, I have sacrificed most of my socializing time to focus on my academics and other involvements. I do wish though that I could go back to spending school nights talking to friends until 3am. I do also wish that I could have more time to play the guitar. I’ve never been able to just sit down and play for the many hours that I wish I could play for. This is why I look forward to breaks so much! SO MUCH FREE TIME!!!!