With the spring semester nearing its end, University Housing Services is pleased to announce this term’s recipients of the Resident Assistant (RA) Scholarship award. The RA Scholarship is presented to resident assistants (RAs) who exemplify success in the classroom and the RA leadership role. This semester, four $500 academic scholarships were awarded to exceptional students.
Determined to be a knowledgeable and helpful resource for his residents, Jack Harding was an exemplary candidate for the RA Scholarship.
“This scholarship provided me with some much-needed financial assistance,” stated Harding. “As someone who is funding his higher education almost entirely on my own, any fiscal benefits are extremely welcome!”
Harding shared that impacting his residents motivates him to strive to keep improving as a resident assistant.
“An RA’s position is extremely unique, in the sense that I have the opportunity to help those around me thrive in one of the most significant and shell-shocking periods of their lives,” Harding said.
Overcoming challenges is a large part of being an RA. Harding mentioned a difference in perspective with his residents as a challenge he has needed to learn how to navigate.
“It’s a struggle when it occurs between a resident and an RA,” Harding said. “With vastly different personalities, views, and attitudes, sometimes we don’t mesh as easily. Rudeness, dismissiveness, and disrespect are always a very real possibility, but these unavoidable challenges are always manageable.”
Financial awards such as the RA Scholarship are made possible by the generous support of our community. Check out Giving.IllinoisState.edu for information on how you can contribute to student success.
