Life as a Residential Student Leader by Austin

Life as a Residential Student Leader by Austin - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

I remember the first few moments at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) during the start of my sophomore year of high school. It took several trips to the car to transfer my possessions to my room, but after I had settled in, my parents finally had to say goodbye. I was nervous about what came next, but luckily, there were upperclassmen there to help. These people, known as Residential Student Leaders (RSLs) were on campus to help us acclimate to the IMSA environment. Throughout the next week, they led team bonding activities, answered our questions, and made IMSA feel more like home.
Unfortunately, after that initial week, the RSLs practically disappeared. Once the year got underway, neither of the RSLs in my “wing” of 24 students reached out to me or any of the other first-year students. That was difficult, because I did not feel that I could go to them for help when I needed it, which was often as I struggled to adjust to life at IMSA. Throughout my sophomore year, and well into my junior year, I suffered from this lack of interaction, being less social and confident in myself than I should have been.
Then, by the end of my junior year, I had the opportunity to apply for this same Resident Student Leader position. Although the application process was competitive, I was genuinely interested in holding the position. I wanted to be the type of leader I needed when I was a sophomore. Fortunately, I was accepted into the program. I was ecstatic! Over the summer, I could not wait to meet with the incoming sophomores. I spent a long time planning possible activities to hold in the wing to further build a sense of unity.
Since the school year has started, I have learned a lot about myself. While I was usually a quiet person, being a leader has forced me to learn how to reach out to people I would not normally talk to. Aside from the usual activities we planned, I have made a conscious effort to talk to everyone in my wing on a one-to-one basis, even if it just means saying “Hello” or asking them how their day has been. This has made me into a more social and outgoing person, which has helped me meet new people and become more confident in myself.
As I apply to college, I hope to take advantage of such leadership opportunities in the future. Being a student leader has taught me that college is so much more than just academics and research. It has taught me that in a residential environment, the students around you become your family. And, like at home, your life becomes better when you are closer and more comfortable with your family. As a current and possibly future student leader, I have taken pride in my responsibility to foster positive relationships in my community and help people make their residential dorm their home away from home.