I took Introduction to Residential Learning, or IRL, during the fall semester of my junior year. This class is required for all new Resident Assistants at Longwood. In this class, we discussed real life topics such as drug use, hazing, empathy, and stress management. This class is designed around these topics because as RA’s, we deal with these topics all the time.
This class was unlike any other class that I have taken here in the fact that I didn’t take any notes, but still learned more than any other class. The class was more discussion based, so writing down everything that everyone said would be pointless. Instead, I decided to concentrate on the conversation and contribute my thoughts. It turns out that I retained more information because I was focused on the discussion, instead of being focused on writing every single word down.
As an honors student in this class, one of our assignments was to create a poster on a topic that we did not discuss in class. I chose to present on financial management, which effects all college students and my residents everyday. I researched at what financial management is, how it impacts college students, how it has impacted my residents specifically, and what I can do to help.
Below, I have included a picture of myself presenting my poster on research day.
