SEAHO Report - Summer 2019 - 25

SEAHO Feature Articles
the response would have looked like if the same thing had happened in Residence Life. What differences (if
any) are there in our approach to something like this? Does education play into those differences? Do politics
play into them? If yes, how so? I don't have the answers to these questions, but it is fun to wonder.
Another lesson I learned from my experience outside Residence Life is that I took a lot of things for granted.
Flextime, professional development opportunities, support, supervision: all of this was taken away and not
substituted in any way during my time with the inspection company. It wasn't until I left the CRL position that
I realized how important those components are to me. I had no student interaction, I had no supervisors meeting
with me at least once every week or two providing guidance and direction, and I had NO time off. We started
out working from 6:00am-5: 00 pm Monday through Saturday, unless we got rained out (rain muddies up the
dirt around the line and fills ditches with water, so they have to wait until it dries up to resume progress). About
two or three months into the job, we started working 7 days a week to try to stay on track to finish on-time.
Because it's an all-hands on deck sort of thing, we weren't able to plan a vacation or take a week off to go visit
family. Add that to the fact that we were in one of the most boring parts of Texas more than 1 ½ hours away
from anything, and you have yourself an ideal plan for boredom and burnout.
A final lesson I learned is how important it is to explore. I fully recognize that my privileges (and nepotism)
allowed me to have an opportunity like this in the first place, and unfortunately, those privileges aren't awarded
to everyone else. With that being said, I think exploring how you're able is crucial to truly understand if this
work is right for you. Leaving the field opened my eyes to SO much that I would have never experienced
otherwise, but above all else, it made me realize just how RIGHT Residence Life is for me. I love the work that
I do, I love my work family, and I love how much pride I have for my institution.
The Return
The job with the inspection company left me wanting so much more, especially coming from something as
engaging and fulfilling as the CRL role. As I finished up my first contract with the company, I moved back
to Alabama to be with family and friends. A few months in, I was contacted by UNCG to come back as a
temporary employee just to close out one of the buildings (couple months, max). Since I was waiting for the
next contract to come along, I decided to take the temporary position and reconnect with my UNCG family.
Coming back was a seriously emotional experience for me. The majority of my development happened while at
UNCG. Some of the happiest and hardest times in my young life happened while I was a Spartan, and some of
the coolest people intentionally poured into my professional and personal development. I owe so much to my
Spartan family (both in and out of HRL), and I am forever grateful to each and every person who has helped
me along the way. Jumping from a job where there is no greater or deeper meaning to one where you impact
the actual lives of other people every day is shocking, but now I know that this is meant for me. After being
back for only a month on temporary status, I submitted my application to return to the CRL role and *drumroll
please* I GOT IT! I'm now back full-time with my Spartan family, and I'm loving every minute of it!
This story is one of many that have helped me realize that I truly am a "ResLifer." My only hope in sharing this
story is that you find some part that you can relate to or that inspires you. My understanding of my purpose and
my "why" for doing what I do has definitely changed. I don't do this for the money, or because it feels like I
have to do it. I do this work because I love it, and it genuinely makes me happy. If there is ever anything that
you have questions about or maybe you're thinking of taking that leap of faith outside or back into Residence
Life, please don't hesitate to reach out (djwiggi2@uncg.edu)! I would love to share more with you in the future,
but until then, I'm back home, and that's where I'm staying! <3
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SEAHO Report Summer 2019

SEAHO Report - Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Summer 2019