About my Practicum

1. What did you do for your practicum?

For my practicum, I worked as a Resident Assistant. As of May 2021, I will be finishing up my second semester in this role. Some of the responsibilities of this job include, 1) developing positive interpersonal relationships with over 60 residents by organizing monthly educational/social programs, 2) facilitating a culturally diverse space by attending diversity training, advertising campus sponsored safe space programs, and posting inclusivity awareness flyers throughout the residence, and 3) liaisoning between Resident Life staff and students on safety messages about COVID-19 via email and Zoom meeting.

2. What did you learn from your practicum? 

My biggest takeaway as a Resident Assistant is how to manage friendly yet professional and cooperative relationships with residents from differing backgrounds.

3. How have you grown as a leader and as a professional?

Overall, I have grown as a leader by learning how to balance between being a warm, resourceful companion to residents while also disciplining students when necessary. This ‘balance’ was the most challenging yet insightful part of the Resident Assistant role. In all walks of life, it is crucial to be able to navigate between friendly and professional relationships, and I am grateful to have gained experience doing this.

4. How can you apply your practicum experience to your life?

Through my practicum experience, I learned crucial problem solving, confrontational, organizational, creative, social, and professional skills that are all applicable to my career aspirations.