For a long time, UHCL was predominantly a commuter campus, and not until August 2019, did the university open its first on-campus living community, Hunter Residence Hall.
I started attending UHCL in January 2019. To be honest, I did not know there were on-campus jobs for students. Prior to working in Hunter Residence Hall, I worked for a boutique called Paisley Lane and one of the reasons why I wanted to work on-campus was the convenience it offered me.
My friend worked in the Student Assistance Center (SAC) and encouraged me to apply for an on-campus job on the Jobs4Hawks website. I looked through the website and saw an opening for a front desk assistant position at Hunter Residence Hall. I immediately applied.
A month later, I got an email stating that the residence hall would like to set up a phone interview with me. I was so excited. I set up the interview with the Hunter Residence Hall staff. I vividly remember the phone interview. The phone interview consisted of three people and only lasted 8 minutes. To be honest, I did not think the phone interview went that well.
To my surprise, Cierra Davis, the Hunter Residence Hall residential life coordinator, called to offer me the front desk assistant position. I was thrilled.
During training, I met the other front desk assistant staff members, the resident advisors, and campus partners. The training was super long, but a lot of fun. I was able to bond immediately with the staff members. It felt like a home away from home.
My official start date in Hunter Residence Hall was August 21, 2019.
The Hunter Residence Hall job was contracted for a year. So, after I finished the first year of working in Hunter Residence Hall, I applied for the summer housing assistant position and got the job. While working in the summer, I got to live in the residence hall. It was nice to experience the resident advisor life throughout the summer. After the summer housing assistant job, I applied for a second year as a front desk assistant; I loved Hunter Residence Hall so much that I wanted to work at it non-stop until graduation.
While working in Hunter Residence Hall, I created lifelong friendships with staff members and residents. One of the ways I bonded was through our programs. One of my favorite programs this semester was the carnival. Hunter Residence Hall gave me this opportunity to meet all kinds of people as I always had residents come by the desk to chat. I truly loved the bond I had with the residents.
Additionally, I loved getting to know Cierra and Matt Perry, the director of Hunter Residence Hall. I am so thankful for their leadership and considered them my mentors throughout my entire experience. I cannot thank them enough for their guidance throughout my experience working in Hunter Residence Hall.
Working in Hunter Residence Hall taught me interpersonal skills like problem-solving, communication, conflict resolution, decision making, and team building. One of the best things about working in the residence hall is that you are always learning and growing.
This job was not always easy. Like any job, it had its hardships. However, it was incredibly rewarding.
I am thankful for the opportunity to have had the chance to work in Hunter Residence Hall. I will truly miss the staff members and the residents. To me, working there was one of the best experiences I could have ever had in college.
