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.
An outstanding and hardworking pillar of support for her residents, Lauren May was a stellar candidate for the RA Scholarship.
“This scholarship impacts me in major ways; $500 could cover a semester of textbooks, parking passes, tech upgrades, school supplies, and so on,” May said. “This scholarship allows me to focus more on my education and less on financial stress.”
May attributes her journey at Illinois State University and her future as her motivation to push through challenges and strive for success.
“When things become overwhelming—between classes, my RA role, and life in general—I remind myself of my end goal,” May said. “I take a step back and think about my aspirations of becoming a high school teacher one day. That vision keeps me going, pushing me to be the best version of myself while also recognizing the importance of balance so that I don’t burn myself out.”
When asked about advice to give to new RAs, May notes the continuous training as a strong resource to reference in times of need.
“It’s a lot, but one day, it just clicks—you’ll realize you know what you’re doing,” May said. “That said, no amount of training can fully prepare you for the real experience, and that’s OK. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but with time, things will start to make sense. Trust yourself, ask for help when needed, and don’t be too hard on yourself as you learn—you’ve got it.”
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.

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