August 07-20, 2003
Events 5-8 in my countdown all have something in common: they all involve me meeting some new people, or at least getting to better know some people who I only vaguely knew before. If getting to know people was the only criteria, this would have finished much higher on this list.
Even still, it really feels to me like this should be a little higher up, but objectively, RA training as a whole was one of the most stressful, exhausting, and oftentime boring weeks of my life. Mandatory breakfast meetings at 8am, meetings until 9pm, then floor preparation time. Add to that the joys of such things as 2.5 hour fire safety presentations, and you wonder why this made the list at all.
It’s hard to explain, but somehow, looking back on it, I really did enjoy it. We actually had some really fun activities (the retreat at White Eagle Conference Center, the scavenger hunt, etc.), activities that I might consider a waste of time during the academic year but which I was able to really enjoy over the summer. But mostly, it was a new experience. Being on campus a week and a half before anyone else arrived was almost relaxing enough to offset the other stresses associated with opening. And, of course, the people were great. My co-workers here really are an amazing bunch, and to learn about them and become friendly with them was truly enjoyable.
Filed under: College, Life, Reminiscing, Syracuse
