SEAHO Report - Spring 2011 - (Page 23)

Residence Life Experience Transferred into Business Acumen seaHo feature By Kiril Stoyanov, Graduate Hall Director, MBA Class of 2012, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Today, the importance of college education has shifted to a new and much harsher direction, where the knowledge gained in the classroom is just the basis for succeeding in the real world environment. Social interaction and practical experience are the main assets that corporate recruiters look for in a student’s resume. For a graduate student, one of the best ways to gain experience while at school is through a Graduate Assistantship. The most common graduate assistantship that an MBA student has is grading papers or proctoring exams for a business professor. While this is still beneficial to the student, it cannot compare with what I am gaining from my position. Even though I am a business student I have a graduate assistantship with the department of Residence Life as a Graduate Hall Director. At first you would think that there is no connection between the two, but in fact the business and managerial experience that I am gaining is enormous and by far surpasses that of a graduate assistant in the department of business. This is one of the few graduate assistantships where you have your own staff that you are directly supervising. The leadership experience involved is tremendous. In addition to being able to direct and coach others, I am also facing situations where I have to deal with emotional, behavioral or legal issues. The extensive interaction with people from different backgrounds and personalities contributes to my communication skills and ability to relate to others which is vital in the professional world. As a Hall Director, I have numerous administrative responsibilities that are very similar to those in any corporation - organize, lead and attend meeting, schedule day to day operations, complete and submit paperwork. And these are just the daily responsibilities of my position. My role extends much more than that. I have to make important decisions that ultimately affect the community that I am overseeing, as well as the staff I supervise. I have the freedom and ability to plan and model every semester. Students’ experiences depend solely on my desire to meet the minimum requirements or to go above and beyond my call of duty. My experience in Residence Life as a Graduate Hall Director is one of the most valuable aspects of my development as a person and professional. I have been able to give an example from my work as Hall Director in every interview that I have been to. It has helped me deal with situations in the workplace outside of school as well as in my personal life. This is a great experience that can be beneficial to any student, regardless of their major or career plans. • contents reports news awards features regions

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Spring 2011

SEAHO Report - Spring 2011
Table of Contents
SEAHO President
One-on-Ones: Where Are They Headed?
The Five Housing Love Languages
Boys-To-Men Mentoring Program
2011 SEAHO Awards
Commuter Assistant Program
RoomBug at JMU
Residence Life Experience Transferred into Business Acumen
Fighting Committee Frustration
Virginia Tech: Ut Prosim
Seeing the Light: The Case for Fluorescent Bulbs in Residence Halls
Alabama Updates
Florida Updates
Kentucky Updates
Louisiana Updates
Mississippi Updates
North Carolina Updates
South Carolina Updates
Virginia Updates

SEAHO Report - Spring 2011