By Nicolette DiMura
Staff Writer
As we enter the fourth week of spring semester, students have the opportunity to apply for on-campus leadership positions. It is easy to get involved around campus and be a part of something that can improve the Bonaventure experience.
Orientation leaders, peer coaches and residential assistants (RA) are examples of leadership positions. The benefits of being a leader include gaining confidence, meeting new people and boosting a résumé.
“I knew I wanted to get more involved in leadership positions on campus,” Cody Didas, a junior finance major said. “I thought being an orientation leader would be a great way to engage students as they entered the university and pass my passion for the university on to them. I made some of my best friends on campus through being on the team.”
After students are chosen to become a member of the orientation team, they have to spend the first three weeks of July in training. The first week is solely based on getting to know each other followed by bonding activities.
“We are looking for well-rounded students who are successful both in and out of the classroom,” Chris Brown, director of first-year experience and orientation coordinator, said. “We are looking for students who are involved on campus, enthusiastic about Bona’s and interested in helping new students get acclimated to SBU.”
Applications to be an orientation leader are due Feb. 11.
“Soon after I began my freshman year, I fell in love with Bonaventure and could not think of a better way to spend my summer than by sharing my experience here with incoming students and their parents,” Samantha Harrienger, a sophomore education major, said. “I loved the way everyone on the team had his or her own unique personality, but was still able to work well with everyone else.”
Peer coaches are upperclassmen who have been recommended by professors, been involved around campus and have been successful in academics.
Information meetings to become a peer coach begin the week of March 16. Specific times will be announced later in the semester. Applications are due Mar. 23.
“I became a peer coach because my RA freshman year told me about her experience as one. When an interest meeting was announced, I made sure to be there,” Rachel Dorogi, a junior education and English double major said. “My greatest enjoyment with peer coaching was when all of the peer coaches walked into the auditorium in Murphy. I knew at that moment that the freshmen were going to start a new chapter.”
In order to become a peer coach, recommendations are required along with completing an application, which is handed out at the interest meeting. Each peer coach has a handful of freshmen to work with throughout the year.
If any students are interested in becoming an RA, they must turn in an application with name, GPA, major, class and signature. The top sheet from the application packet is due today to the Reilly Center room 204 by 4 p.m.
“To be an RA, you have to be creative and you have to make sure you have time on your hands, because sometimes people don’t realize that it’s a hard job,” Aaliyah Samuels, a sophomore psychology major, said. “It takes up a lot of your time and you have to find the patience for that, especially as a freshman RA.”
Before becoming an RA, groups of 10 to 12 people work together in a group activity, followed by a one-on-one interview. Afterward, students are asked to write an essay.
“I wish my RA branched out more to us and she didn’t, so I’m trying to do what she never did and learn from my experiences here,” Samuels said “I’m just trying to give back now.”
Students who are best suited for any three of these positions are those who are responsible and work well with others.
“Students who serve in these roles will gain significant leadership experiences, opportunities to strengthen effective communication skills, and the ability to balance working collaboratively and individually,” Brown said.
