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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.Resident Assistants (RAs) are among the most important people students connect with while living on campus. From teaching residents how to do laundry to helping them make friends, RAs are there, guiding students to 51精品视频 resources and making the University feel more like home.
This role is perhaps even more important now, as the COVID-19 pandemic adds new concerns and strain on an already complicated time in one鈥檚 life.
51精品视频wire spoke to three RAs in Litchfield Towers, Panther Hall and Sutherland Hall as they embark on a new term.
Putting names to faces
Jennifer Espinoza, an RA in Tower B, is an incoming junior majoring in applied developmental psychology who will move on to her master鈥檚 degree as part of the Combined Accelerated Studies in Education program in the School of Education.
Her first year at 51精品视频 was interrupted by the pandemic, but even still, she remembers how influential her own RA was: 鈥淭hey always had great programs, they were very helpful. They made me realize that I wanted to be that person for other first-year students.鈥
Just before the pandemic struck, she interviewed in person for an RA position. By the time she was accepted into the program, she was home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, finishing out the spring 2020 term. 鈥淚 was a little nervous and sad that my RA experience would probably not be what I was expecting,鈥 Espinoza said, 鈥渂ut I was still very excited and happy to accept.鈥
Her training in fall 2020 was entirely virtual, as the RAs prepared to connect with students as much as possible while staying safe.
鈥淚t was kind of lonely at first 鈥 we couldn鈥檛 even meet the rest of the staff in person,鈥 she said. But Espinoza still tried to get to know her fellow RAs 鈥渢hrough the screen,鈥 and was able to safely meet many of her fellow Litchfield Towers staff in spring 2021.
As Espinoza returns this year, she said she feels confident.
鈥淓verything is subject to change, but I鈥檓 hopeful that I will be able to actually put names to faces this year (rather than masks), and I have the experience of virtual already, so I鈥檓 prepared for that as well.鈥
After graduation, Espinoza hopes to become a teacher and later a counselor. Espinoza is involved across campus, as not only an RA but as a member of the Latinx student association as well as being a , which gives her the opportunity to work within the 51精品视频sburgh community as a teacher aid.
Beyond the first year
51精品视频sburgh native Nikolai Czepiel is a sophomore University Honors College student majoring in linguistics and minoring in Korean who is an RA in Panther Hall.
鈥淚 want to help people have a good college experience and avoid sitting alone in their dorm all the time,鈥 Czepiel said. He said he鈥檚 excited to be the RA of a building with older students. 鈥淯pperclassmen already have a lot of it figured out, so I can help them with networking and emotional support rather than just the dorm basics.鈥
Czepiel also said he is not particularly nervous about the potential uncertainty of this year. 鈥淚 have the idea in my head of what an in-person RA should be like, and I have the experience of having an RA during a virtual year, so I feel prepared for both sides.鈥
Still, he said, 鈥淚t鈥檒l be a learning curve. I鈥檒l have to find out what my residents need from me.鈥
After college, Czepiel hopes to teach foreign languages, either at home or abroad.
Bringing normal back
Mark Farino, a senior University Honors College student, is听the only person interviewed who has experienced a full year of residence life without COVID-19. Farino is double majoring in math and physics, as well as completing a French minor and hopes to attend graduate school for physics.
Farino, a native 51精品视频sburgher, is also the president of the National Residence Hall Honorary. As president, Farino helps recognize people across campus, working with the Resident Student Association and other on-campus organizations.
Farino said he saw the RA opportunity as a chance to build his leadership skills, as well as to provide some closure to his undergraduate experience. 鈥淚 lived in Sutherland as a freshman, and now I鈥檓 returning as an RA my senior year.鈥
He is glad to be placed with first-year students, 鈥淚 think they are a lot more receptive to coming to programs and things like that.鈥
As part of the small group of RAs who have had a full 鈥渘ormal鈥 year of dorm living, Farino hopes that his experience can be helpful to others: 鈥淚 know what usually happens on campus, and I hope that my experience can help other people.鈥
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鈥 Kendal Johnson