NHTI- Concord’s Community College motto is “Start Here… Go Anywhere” and that is exactly what a few recently graduated Resident Assistants have done. Resident Assistants from the NHTI Residence Life program have been successful in bringing and using their RA skills to their new four year colleges not only as new transfer students but also as RAs at their new institutions. Here are a couple of their stories.
Former NHTI Head Resident Assistant Tim Ford has taken what he has learned as an RA at NHTI and has been recently accepted into the Justice Studies program at Southern New Hampshire University for fall 2015 and has also been hired as a Resident Assistant at SNHU. Tim was asked to reflect back on his experience at NHTI and this is what he had to say…
“While at NHTI for two years, obtaining my Associate in Science in Criminal Justice, I had the opportunity to spend three of my four semesters as a Resident Assistant on campus. When I initially gained interest in the position, and later was given the opportunity to go through the application process, I was asked why I wished to become an RA. After meeting and getting to know the RA’s, I wanted the opportunity to become a positive influence and role model to the other students who lived with me. Through the year and a half experience, I had the opportunity to grow more than I imagined I would in college. Personally, as well as professionally, the RA experience was like no other at NHTI. It was an opportunity, which was not present on campus anywhere else. I learned how to communicate, mediate, and manage a group of residents. With this opportunity, for the first time, I learned how to work with others, and support others to create a positive living environment, and positively impact so many. The RA experience encompasses positivity and growth, as well as difficult and stressful situations that allowed me to grow in a number of areas. The position at NHTI taught me a lot more than the required duty nights you take as an RA and taught me how to work through situations that I may come across later in my life. Because of the knowledge and experience I gained, and the fact that the position had provided me so much, I decided to pursue it again when I transferred to Southern New Hampshire University.
The SNHU Residence Life staff allowed me to apply and go through their Resident Assistant application process. I strongly believe, that as difficult as it was to have never attending the University as a SNHU Penman, I had past RA experience that no other had in the process. I had lived in the “fishbowl” for nearly two years, and knew what the position was all about.
Through the RA experience, my entire life has changed for the better. It made me realize that everything that I do or say is reflected and noticed. This learning experience is one that many students in college do not have the opportunity to have. This work experience in college can easily be transferred to the working world in my future. I am very grateful for the opportunities presented to me from both NTHI-Concord’s Community College, as well as Southern New Hampshire University. These institutions can only be as successful as they are because of the hard work and dedication that RA’s have for their position and lifestyle, and the commitment they make while attending college. “
Another former Head Resident Assistant Brody Glidden has really made the most of his experiences at NHTI and Southern New Hampshire University. Here is what Brody had to say about his experience…
“As many students, I became a resident assistant my freshmen year to save money and to have another leadership experience. Well, three years later, many different positions, and a few different institutions, I find myself looking at residence life and student affairs being my future career path. NHTI, Concord’s Community College shaped me to be the best resident assistant as I could be. I became an RA after my first semester of college and I was not sure what to expect, if I was going to like it and if I was going to stay in the position. My Resident Director at the time, Jessica Chisholm, persuaded me to try it, said that she saw something in me and that I could be a great future professional. From there I became the Head Resident Assistant in one of the three buildings on campus. This gave me the opportunity to assist in office tasks, building maintenance and support with staff development and training. Prior to becoming an RA I never thought that I wanted to go further and get my bachelor’s degree. While talking with Jess about my future and possibly becoming a professional in student affairs, she explained that I will need to get my bachelor’s degree in order to be considered. After a long time of thinking, planning and searching, I decided that I would continue on and pursue additional higher education.
The time came just like all the other students where my degree was soon to be in hand, and I needed to make a move to another institution. Jess had a strong relationship with one of the schools that I wanted to go to, and she introduced me to the Associate Director of Residence Life at Southern New Hampshire University. While speaking with him, he explained to me since I had such a great background of experience in residence life and student activities, he wanted me to apply to be a transfer resident assistant at SNHU. A few weeks later I was notified and offered a position and that SNHU was looking forward to me joining them the next year.
Currently as a senior at SNHU, I am still as resident assistant in a traditional underclassmen building. Through my experiences at SNHU and NHTI, Concord’s Community College I had been given the opportunities to attend the ACUHO-I STARS College for undergraduate students interested in a career in residence life. This past summer I was an ACUHO-I summer intern at North Dakota State University.
I am so beyond thankful for everything that NHTI has taught me and I would not be where I am today without their continued support, guidance and enthusiasm for myself and other students with whom they work.”
Comments from former NHTI Head Resident Assistant Brody Glidden
Submitted by Nicholas Walton, Residence Director, NHTI – Concord’s Community College