Hello hello once again! I know you simply can’t get enough of my diva lessons, so why keep the general public waiting any longer?! So here it is: The second lesson on your road to full-fledged DIVA! So, here it is: Diva Lesson #2: Return to Your Roots…and no, I’m not talkin’ about your natural hair color. But that can be just as important. That’s a lesson for another time though…

As you may have learned if you had read my last post, on Monday of this week, we didn’t have class due to that ultimate diva who would not be upstaged, Hurricane Irene. Irene may have stopped classes, but she cannot stop the world. Especially the world of extracurricular activities. Some of them anyway. This fact meant that the organization known as the Residence Hall Student Association would be having its first meeting of the semester.

Up until the moment I walked through the door really, I felt conflicted about whether or not I should attend the meeting. During my first year, I was an active member of hall government, and participated very actively in the Residence Hall Student Association (RHSA). This year, a mix of events, including being active in many other clubs and organizations, left me conflicted about whether or not I would stay involved with RHSA over the course of this year. I thought it over, and decided that I would attend the meeting because my friend Stephen was going, and my friend Sarah was being introduced for her position as RCC (Regional Communications Coordinator) as part of the Regional Board of Directors (RBD), for the larger regional affiliation of the Residence Hall Student Association, known as NEACURH. I know I just threw a ton on abbreviations at you, but that’s what we like to do. Abbreviate things. If you have trouble catching on, it’s okay, I won’t hold it against you. Britney Spears wouldn’t want me to. Finally, the last piece which contributed to my decision was that this year, I hold to position of Vice Chair of the Advocacy Committee for all of NACURH, the National Association of College and University Residence Halls.

At 9:00, I headed over to Bevier, a suite style residence hall, where the meeting for the week was being held. Sarah and I walked in together, and instantly I recognized so many faces of people who I hadn’t seen since the end of the spring semester. I went around and talked to a lot of people before the meeting began, and then took my seat next to Stephen. Basically, RHSA represents the interests of all students living on campus, and organizes large events for them to participate in, as well as advocates for their interests to make sure they have the best possible college experience. That’s what it breaks down to, yo. The meeting was just like any other. Various topics were discusses, an overview of the organization was given, Sarah was introduced, and even I got introduced too which I wasn’t expecting. As the meeting progressed, I thought about how nice it was to be back with all of these people who had helped to shape my first year here on campus.

The meeting went on as usual, and after it was over, I talked to some more of my friends, then went to my friend Kyleen’s room and she gave me a fabulous birthday card with a pair of sunglasses made out of paper on the front. It was phenomenal. Following that, I met up with Stephen and Jen (The second, if you remember from my last blog post), and we drove into town to go to the diner, which is one of our most frequented hang out locations. Two more of my friends, Jaz and Marissa, ended up joining us and we all ate together and had a wonderful time. It was really nice to be able to spend some time with all of them. Jen, Marissa, and Stephen all worked at orientation over the summer, and now that the semester has started again, I don’t get to see them as much so I enjoy spending time with them when I can.

When the evening came to an end, and I returned to my room for the night, I thought back upon the course of night, considering all of the events that had taken place. When I thought about RHSA, I realized how nice it was to be with familiar faces, who had helped me so much during my first year. Through RHSA, I had developed a stronger sense of self on this campus, and helped to develop my leadership skills further, which aided me in gaining a variety of leadership positions both on campus, such as being an Orientation Leader, and even nation-wide, as I am now the Vice Chair of the Advocacy Committee for NACURH, as I stated earlier. Although I do not plan to be as involved as I was last year, I arrived at the decision that it is important to stay involved with RHSA this year, because it is a strong foundation of my roots here it campus. It’s where I grew from, where I evolved from, where I learned from. Give back, my inner Oprah voice told me. That’s what’s most important.F

And so, that is how we arrive at the Diva Lesson of the day. Since RHSA gave me so much, I realized I must return to my roots, continue to help, and continue to learn. I am so thankful for RHSA because of all that it has given me, and now I know I can give back, but also take more as well. There’s always room to grow. So, that’s why the lesson for this session is “Return to Your Roots.” There’s nothin’ like it. Go out there, plant your roots, and return to them when you can or need to. It is essential. Class dismissed.