Testimonials
Graduate Assistants were asked:
1. What was your experience like as a GA?
2. What qualities does a potential GA need to succeed in your current role?
3. How has your GAship prepared you for your future career?
| Laura Bohorquez, Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs | |
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| 1. Full of surprises is how I describe my experience as a GA. I state this because I came to Loyola’s Department of Student Diversity & Multicultural affairs (SDMA) during a time when the department was going through a transition with new staff , different department structuring, and a multitude of new ideas. With all of these transitions around me I had many opportunities along with challenges and therefore growth. I was also pleased at how fast I was able to build relationships with my staff and at how much support I receive from them when it comes to sharing my ideas and taking on projects. Overall I have had a great GA experience, in fact it has been better than I had imagined because it has been difficult, sometimes too busy, but at the end of the day I love what I do and I am able to call my staff, my Chicago family. | |
| 2. I believe that the qualities that a potential SDMA GA needs in order to succeed in my current role are agency, being goal-oriented, committed, flexible, and having an open heart/mind. The reason that I state these is because being a GA is not only about growing and unlearning things for your own personal, social, and professional development but also with students and alongside the larger communities that you are a part of, therefore being open hearted and minded are vital. Being goal-oriented and committed are important because there will be challenges and well as learning opportunities at work and you will get overwhelmed trying to balance work, life, and school (we all do and it is normal); but if you do not focus on what you want to get our of your assistantship and in what you want to contribute to the Loyola community, then it will be easier for you to lose sight of what matters to you and your purpose. Ultimately, I think that being optimistic and knowing how to have fun and being okay with mistakes and doing better the next time are what will help you succeed. | |
| 3.My GAship has helped me enhance my communication skills, collaboration skills, facilitation skills, and cultural competency skills. Having conversations with various students and staff about issues of social justice, multiculturalism, and diversity have encouraged me to be more effective in participating in difficult dialogues with civility. Moreover I am a lot more comfortable to public speak (which says a lot because I have always been intimidated). My GAship has prepared me for a future career by giving me the opportunity to make my own goals and holding myself accountable to them. I believe this is crucial in any career because sometimes we might not have the support that we need in our working environment however this does not mean our goal cannot be attainable, thus if we have a goal that we really want and believe in then we should make it happen knowing that we can't hold anyone accountable to our goal if we first don’t hold ourselves accountable to achieve it. | |
| Kira Gatewood | |
| 1. My experience as a Graduate Assistance has been a journey. I started out with a preconceived map of the key experiences I desired to get out of the opportunity. When things started to differ from what I wanted, it became challenging but equally rewarding. I was able to grow through my experiences and sharpen skills that are now transferable to the profession. | |
| 2. A potential Graduate Assistant needs only two things to succeed in my role. First, they must possess an openness to the journey. My assistantship is within the School of Nursing and not having a medical background I thought I was starting with a deficit. My openness to learn not only about higher education but the medical field gave me an advantage rather than a disadvantage. Did I sometimes feel like I was working twice as hard? Yes. Do I feel it was worth it? Yes. I learned to work specifically with student who are in a very intense high-stress program. I also had the opportunity to work with non-traditional students which gave me an additional skill set. Through watching how these students deal with the pressures, I learned new techniques on how to deal with the pressure of my own program. Secondly, in order to have success as a Graduate Assistant, one must have guts! It takes guts to jump into an assistantship. You have to be willing to step up to the plate and assume responsibility for many things. This position is designed to give you the ability to take ownership over projects. It also takes guts to fail. Sometimes things don't work out the way you intended. You have to have enough gumption to acknowledge the mistake and learn from them. This is how you grow as a professional but most importantly, as an individual. | |
| 3. The journey of my assistantship is coming to a close but I feel the skills and experiences have prepared my for my future career in higher education. I have been able to gain a skill set that is unique as I worked with traditional and non traditional students entering the medical field. I have had the opportunities to build professional networks within the university and the Chicago-land area. This journey has laid a strong foundation for the adventure of my career. | |
| Henry Shin, Assistant Resident Director, Residence Life | |
| 1. My experience at Loyola as an Assistant Resident Director has definitely been an exciting roller coaster ride. Flying in from California with three suitcases without knowing a single soul (and having never visited the campus)to start the next chapter of my life as a graduate student, I really needed to take that leap of faith. As with any transition, it wasn't always the rainbows and butterflies. Just a month into my ARD position, I missed an important meeting. Trying to prove my worth in this new city, it was difficult to show signs of failure. After discussing how I was performing with my supervisor, I bought my plane ticket back home for winter break. It didn't matter that it was only the end of August; I felt like I was counting down the days before I could head back to my support systems back in California. Things began to change astime went along. While I still didn't do everything perfectly (and don’t worry,nobody ever does), I started to get into the groove of things. It definitely helped having new friends who would just hear me out even if it was about something that wasn’t going well. The relationship with my supervisor was developing along as well. From mediating roommate conflicts to administering conduct, I started to learn that I am actually good at these things! However,some things, you just never see coming. By the end of the year, I had worked through multiple major student crises and transitioned once more to a new supervisor after my supervisor left the institution at the end of February. It was my new supervisor who really let my light shine. She utilized my strengths to the fullest while challenging me to develop in the areas I need growth. Overall,despite the challenges I had throughout the year, by the end of my first yearas an ARD, I came out feeling confident, capable and prepared for anything my second year could throw at me. | |
| 2. A GA in Residence Life needs flexibility, vulnerability and a positive attitude. Especially in residence life, there are definitely late nights and long weekends. Duty calls at 3 a.m. come the days you want them the least. Through it all, we have to have the positive attitude to handle all the situations. Yes, there are times to vent, but when engaging with the students,regardless of the decisions they made, we must conduct ourselves professionally.Along with this, there will be times when work load is heavy. Move-in and RA Selection are just two of the many high-volume work periods in residence life.Without the flexibility to schedule all of these hectic days in, a GA in Residence Life will have a tough time. Through all of it, vulnerability can bean ally. While my experience with vulnerability came as a result of a mistake, don't let it be the same for you! Share with your supervisor your needs! Your supervisors do care about you, whether they are good at showing it or not.Although some of your needs will be unable to be met, you will never know unless you ask. | |
| 3) Residence Life has given me a plethora of skills to prepare for myfuture career. From student conduct and crisis response, to building communitywith co-workers and students, Residence Life offered me a little bit ofeverything. But these skills alone will not be enough in the field. Therelationships I’ve built with those around me will be the number one componentI take with me to the future. I’ve met people who’ll be there for me and life-longfriends I will forever cherish. No matter the trouble I may face in the future,they, along with the skills I’ve gained will push me to continue pressing on. | |
| Katie Doucette, Retreats, Campus Ministry | |
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1. My Graduate Assistant experience has been filled with a variety of joys, challenges, and growing moments. I think some of the greatest joys include having a great supervisor who acts as a mentor and support system, the opportunity to work so closely with students, and the chance to work with some amazing professionals within the Division. Even though there were some challenging moments, those moments have allowed me to grow in my professional identity and gain critical skills I believe I would not have gained otherwise. The professional development has been great and as I look back I am amazed at the many opportunities I have been given to hone in on skills such as cultural competence, networking, counseling skills, and so many others. I feel prepared in many ways to embrace what will come after graduation! |
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| 2. I think one of the most important aspects to succeeding in an assistantship is to have a good grasp of yourself and your own identity. What do you stand for? What grounds you? What are you good at? What are your weaker points? How does your identity impact the work you do? This is a continuous process throughout our entire career but I think it is critical to pay attention to while you are a GA. This time period is your foundation, where the messy internal work can more easily occur, and quite frankly is more accepted. Embrace it!! Additionally, to succeed as a GA you must be open to the diverse identities and stories of others; not only students but staff and faulty as well. With an ever changing demographic that is becoming more diverse, developing cross-cultural skills is very important. Lastly, being motivated and malleable for all the unpredictable times higher education might bring upon you. | |
| 3. My assistantship has helped me to prepare for my career by giving me one-on-one time with students so I can better understand their experience and be there voice in rooms where they are not allowed. I also think my assistantship, since it specifically resides in retreats, has given me the logistical skills to put on big events or programs. It is amazing the detail, time, and strategy that goes into planning retreats and I feel as though I have become more organized and detail-oriented to take on big tasks. I think my assistantship has also taught me some skills in mentorship, since I have had the pleasure of having so many great mentors during my time here. Lastly, I feel as though I have really developed my professional identity to one that represents me and my belief system. | |
| LeeAnn Chomanics, EVOKE GA | |
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1. I think the three most important qualities for GA’s regardless of your role or even institution are authenticity, openness, and the ability to recognize your call. These may seem basic and self-explanatory, but have been crucial is my experience as a GA. I would strongly recommend that you spend some time understanding yourself and your values before beginning your first day at Loyola. Then, as you jump into this great community and continually meet new people, just be you! The very nature of this transition means there will be a lot of new people, ideas, and experiences. Be open to them. Meet everyone where they are in the journey and recognize the gifts in everyone you encounter. Finally, always remember why you felt called to this campus, this career, this assistantship. When other smaller details or issues become overwhelming or frustrating, it really helps to fall back on this basic joy. I am happiest and feel most fulfilled when I see students come alive! I have felt most successful here when I was most able to be authentic and open and recognize my call. |
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2. My experience as a GA with EVOKE has been filled with joys, challenges, and life-giving lessons. This is my first-year in the position and just in the last few months, I have learned a lot and generated so much hope for the coming year. My experience has been a mix of learning as much as possible about Loyola and also meeting truly extraordinary people. There is no doubt that the experience depends on the people with whom we work, including staff, faculty, students, and fellow grads. I would enjoy the opportunity to speak with you, learn more about your journey so far, and certainly answer any questions! |
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| Jena Eberly, Late-Night Programming, SAGA | |
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1. Some of qualities I believe are necessary to be successful as a graduate assistant would be the willingness to be flexible, the ability to multi-task, and the importance of being a team-player. We collaborate with a lot of people in our jobs and it's important to listen, learn, and understand others point of view. The ability to partner with other departments is important to everything we do. |
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2. My experience as the Graduate Assistant for Late-Night Programming in Student Activities & Greek Affairs has been a wonderful experience. I have learned more than I ever thought I would and gained crucial skill sets that will only enhance my ability to be successful in this field and effectively reach students. Working in Student Activities & Greek Affairs has taught me so much about event planning, how to respond to students needs and concern within the realm of programming and why it's important to a student's experience. The work we do is meaningful and rewarding. I could not have asked for a better team to be a part of! |
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| Michele Enos, Assistant Resident Director, Res Life | |
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1. In order to succeed I feel that it helps a lot to have prior experience in residence life. Outside of that, it is necessary to have a passion for student development as well as social justice and diversity. I also think that due to all of the changes happening, both at LUC and in residence life, a graduate must be able to handle changes and be willing to have a hand in helping those changes. |
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2) As an assistant resident director I feel that I have had an excellent experience in understanding what it is like to work in an institution of higher education, specifically residence life. I have not only been able to grow and develop as an educator, but I have also been able to pursue my passions and interests. I feel that if you take control of your graduate experience you can pursue almost any interest you have. |
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| Dacia Hobson, Programming, WTC Life | |
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1. Anyone who loves student affairs and wants to work with professionals dedicated to serving students and furthering the Jesuit traditions will definitely excel as a graduate assistant. Outside of the job description you must enjoy meeting new people and developing new relationships and networks. Overall, the person must be flexible, enjoy laughing and smiling, and thinking creatively and analytically. |
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2. One year is such a short time frame and there is so much to learn about Water Tower and the unique needs of the WTC student body. It has been a great experience working with the WTC campus staff and becoming a part of their tight-knit family. Their support and guidance have become an invaluable contribution to my professional development. |
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| Briana R. Mathew, Programming Assistant, OCSL | |
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1. To succeed in a GA position in general, being flexible with your time is key to getting things done. Some days, might be slow and other days there might be a lot going on. Being flexible with your time and having a positive attitude will go a long way to creating a space for growth. In addition to be flexible, being asthenic and take initiative on things you want to do. If you want to join a committee, or do a program that is a bit out of your job description, ask and take some action. |
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2. My experience as a GA for Off Campus Student Life has been very positive. I have a supervisor who wants to see me grow personally and professionally. He gives me room to be autonomous and take on responsibilities that will help the office and are interesting to me. It's been a great because I learn something new every day about the students I serve and about myself. |
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| Marguerite Moore, Assistant Resident Director | |
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1) To succeed as a GA, you must have time management skills! You will be very busy, and juggling a lot of responsibilities. Having to work, go to class, study and find time for a personal life proved to be a challenge. However, it's a great growing experience and I have learned so much over the past two years. You also need to be willing to try new things and collaborate. This is a great time to meet others at the university and learn more about what they do, and how that relates to your position. Every day my position brings new challenges and obstacles, and to be truly successful, you need to embrace that and be willing to go along for the ride. |
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2) I have had a great experience as an Assistant Resident Director within the Department of Residence Life. The department has given me all the responsibilities that I can expect in my first professional position. Because of this, I feel completely prepared for the next step in my professional journey. Aside from my interactions with students, I have also had the opportunity to serve on committees with fellow staff members. The department really allowed me to participate at the same level as a full-time employee. Additionally, the assistantship provided a great complement to what I was learning in the classroom. My assistantship truly allowed me to put theory into practice, which helped me to succeed as a graduate student. |
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| Melissa Pollay, Hearings Officer & Board Advisor, OSCCR | |
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2) My experience has been very interesting so far, especially as I had little experience working in conduct prior to coming to Loyola. Student Conduct can definitely be difficult and frustrating, but it can also be extremely rewarding because you get to connect with students on a completely different level than you may be used to. It has also been great to have the opportunity to get to know the other GA's throughout the division, and the professional staff throughout the division have been incredibly supportive. |
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| Isaac Rodriguez, Assistant Resident Director, Res Life | |
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1) I've had an amazing experience in my Assistantship. I've been able to form positive relationships with colleagues both within the department and the Division of Student Development. The Department of Residence Life has allowed us to get involved in the re-structuring of the department which has included anything from changing policies to re-writing our mission statement. Being able to interact with students on different levels has been a fun and exciting part of my assistantship. The department is very supportive and understanding of the fact that I am a student as well, which allows me to balance my classes with work. |
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| Daviree Velazquez, Assistant Resident Director, Res Life | |
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1) I believe a GA needs to develop goals for themselves, and aspire to reach them. I also believe that GAs should utilize seasoned professionals as mentors and resources for success. Last, I believe a GA must be eager to learn, and seek resources and seek out opportunities to shape their experience. |
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| 2) As a graduate assistant from residence life, I feel as though I have gotten a variety experiences that will assist me with my future career goals.I am much more confident with my professional identity. | |
| Emily Wilk, Outdoor Experiential Education, Campus Rec | |
| 1) To be a GA, one needs to be able to balance tasks, responsibilities, deadlines, and relationships. Additionally, they need to flexible, reliable, empathetic, comfortable working in the unknown, very passionate about one or two causes, a team-player, reflective, and open to change. Overall, they embrace holistic education and love students. | |
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2) I am the graduate assistant for the Office for Outdoor Experiential Education. I have had a multitude of hands-on experiences, which include facilitating on-campus workshops and small group exercises at Loyola's new Retreat and Ecology Campus. Currently, I am co-facilitating a training program for students leading outdoor experiences for the Loyola community as well as participating in meetings about the future challenge course and rock climbing wall and meeting with students one-on-one to discuss 'big life questions' related to college and their professional life. This position has allowed me to share my love for the urban outdoors by providing a place for student’s connection with something greater than themselves in a community of support and friendship. I have witnessed students who have never slept outside thrive on kayaking day paddles as well as backpacking and cross-country ski trips. I have seen students take action to clean up litter-ridden campsites and discuss the environmental impacts of human travel. I am able to discuss with my supervisor current practices and research of the outdoor field and how they apply to my work and future as an outdoor professional. This position has allowed me to develop my outdoor technical and facilitation skills and connect them to field of student affairs. |
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| Brittany Story, Assistant Resident Director, Res Life | |
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2) I think a Res. Life grad would need to be flexible. This is important because the role is challenging, and requires a lot of time, but it has the potential to be rewarding at the end. This person should also be willing to ask for help when he/she needs it. |