Hey everybody!
We’re buzzing with excitement over the new area team announcements rolling out over this week. However, we still can’t help but fawn over these lovely photos from the most recent Residence Life Banquet.
Hope everyone had a memorable 2018/2019 session; we can’t wait to see even more memories made with the new teams for the upcoming year!
Orchard Commons
Walter Gage
Tallerosa
Place Vanier
Marine Drive
Thunderbird, Fairview, Fraser
Totem Park
PRC Team
RLM Team
Hey there! This is the PRC blog, where every week your PRCA’s (Program Resource Centre Advisors) will post information about your role as Advisors. To learn more about your PRCA team, check out this link ->Â https://prc.housing.ubc.ca/about/meet-the-prc-team/
The PRCA team is here to support you in your new advising role. We’d love to meet and get to know you, so please feel free to stop by the Program Resource Centre this summer to say hi!
Additionally, we will be hosting programs throughout the summer, as well as a BBQÂ in August before Advisor Orientation starts.
If you are eager to start preparing for September, consider starting your Where Am I/Who Am I boards. These boards help your Residents get to know you and know when you are available.
Your Where Am I board helps your residents know when you are and are not available. Here are some examples of Where Am I boards:
Your Who Am I board is a way to introduce you to your Residents! You can put pictures of yourself, fun facts, hobbies – anything that will give your residents an idea of who their RA is. Here are some sample Who Am I boards:
If you have any questions, or would like us to provide feedback for your Who Am I/Where Am I designs, shoot us an email at prc@housing.ubc.ca
You can also follow us on Instagram @heyheyprc and like the Program Resource Centre on Facebook for all the summer updates.
Your PRC Team <3
So your year with the team is coming to a close, and whether you’re coming back for round 2 (or 3, or 4 or more) or heading off to try new things, there are many skills you developed this year that can be applicable to such a wide variety of things!
Assertiveness:
You’ve probably had to document your residents at least once this year, that takes assertiveness, and while this might not be your favorite thing to do (I myself am not very comfortable being assertive), it is a skill that is widely applicable. Being assertive is something you will have to do regardless of your job, whether it’s being assertive to a customer that it trying to get away with free stuff, being assertive with your boss in terms of what you are comfortable doing in your role, or enforcing your company policy, this is a super transferable skill!
Empathizing:
Empathy is a wonderful skill to have. From understanding where your residents and fellow ResLife staff are coming from, to being able to plan programs based on your residents needs.Having the ability to see things from other peoples’ perspectives and understanding where they are coming from will help you in so many different capacities as you move through your life.
Program Planning:
You’ve attended programs of your fellow RAs and hosted some yourself! You’ve had great turnouts to some and less great ones to others, but as we know it’s quality over quantity. You’ve developed so many skills to host fabulous programs this year, and while your future jobs may not require you to host programs specifically, they will most likely require some form of project management. You’ve learned the four-sight model and know how to ideate, develop, clarify and implement your programs and this exact model can be used with projects! When you’re tasked with a big project in the future, think back to this model and all the practice you have implementing it!
Documentation:
Again, not always everyone’s favorite part of the job, but a very transferable skill! Proper documentation of what you do during your work is something that many jobs require, from weekly reports to interaction logs, keeping track of what you did, how you did it, and when it happened is very important!
Time management:
Our last example is probably one of the most transferable! It isn’t easy balancing school and work (and other things if you chose to add more stuff to your schedule), yet somehow you all managed to do just that! Time management takes organization and prioritization, understanding what needs to get done in a more timely manner than other tasks is crucial in the workplace as well as for maintaining your work-life balance.
Best of luck in all your future endeavors and don’t forget to stop by the PRC before the year ends!
x0x0
~PRCAs
We’re almost halfway through March, which means it’s about time to start thinking about the summer. Which means it’s time to start asking yourself what your plans are for the summer.
You might be thinking that it’s too early to think about that, summer planning is a job for April not March. And that might be the case for you if you have one final exam and not much else going on, or if you already have a job and/or place to live lined up for the summer. But for majority of students, now is the best time to get started on the planning process. Why? Because not only do you have the time to dedicate to it but much of summer hiring for internships and jobs happen during March.
Here are a couple of things to think about as you start your planning process:
Summer planning can be a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to as bad as many people make it out to be. Yes, there are many unknowns and many variables to juggle, but with enough time everything can be figured out. Which is why starting early is always beneficial.
The two biggest things that most people struggle with and get anxious about are jobs and a place to live. Start thinking about potential roommates and talk to others about it, if that is something that you are interested in doing. Think about if you will be returning to Residence Life or not, because that will impact whether you sign a short-term summer lease versus a year-long lease. The CareersOnline website is a great starting place for a job search and it’s currently filled with some super awesome jobs for students from all faculties. Most importantly, Summer WorkLearn jobs have been posted and the deadline for most of those applications are March 19th. So go take advantage of that while it is available!
Finally, breath. No matter how many unknowns there are, know that you are going to be okay. You have a support system within Residence Life that you have built up over this past year. You have support systems outside of this as well. Reach out to professors, you’d be surprised as how helpful they can be in a job search. Remember, you’re not the only one in this situation. And you are going to be okay.
With Love,
PRCAs
Hello lovely council members and resident advisors.
Do you love Buzzfeed, and other hip young liberal media? If so, clearly you have heard about the magic of horoscopes. From Wikipedia, “Astrology is the study of the movement and relative positions of celestial objects as a means of divine information about human affairs and terrestrial events”. Super fascinating of course.
Through understanding horoscopes and the implications of what these terms mean, we can see glimpses of how these planetary alignments can support you in your roles as you close your communities.
But first, to answer the question that is on everyone’s mind – what does mercury retrograde mean? Well a planet appears to be moving backwards, away from earth (as opposed to direct – when it moves forwards). Let’s get started.
These only take into account planetary alignments during the month of March/April 2019.
Aries (March 20 – April 19)
This is a good time for you to increase your psychic ability, rely on your own intuitions. You may find yourself being a little bit extra sensitive to the outside world.
This would be a great opportunity to close your community by doing something indoors, but options are broad – trust the instincts that you’ve developed throughout your Residence experiences.
Taurus (April 19 – May 20)
The effects of Aries will place a great emphasis on your personal health, take time to nurture that aspect. You may want to cut down on your spending and focus your efforts on rest and enjoying the sunshine.
Possibly close your community by taking your residents on a hike, where you can talk about the year of growth that you have just experienced. Follow this up by taking some time to relax and engage in self care with your community. Bonus points if you collaborate with Aries friends.
Gemini (May 20 – June 21)
This is a great time for you to pursue your hopes and wishes by connecting with new people and aligning your energy with those who you are close with. Saturn wants you to think about what is really important to you, and define your values, while Uranus is giving you freedom to explore.
Close your community by connecting and reconnecting with your residents, and asking what they want to see as you finish the year – through connecting with your residents, you programs will surely be a success.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Your job may take some time and attention from you. This is a great time of increased recognition. You may have to put in a lot of hard work, overcome obstacles. You must schedule and have plant for success.
Close off your community with the largest event of the year – the place to be. Embrace the work that it will take, and understand the growth you will gain from facilitating the program. How you come up with the program idea is up to you, but create plans and stay organized for maximum effectiveness.
Leo (July 22 – August 22)
Now is a time start clearing up the old and embrace new beginnings – start making long term plans. Despite this, you may find that this will bring forth a time of challenge for you to embrace. Find ways to experience travels and embrace new opportunities to learn.
A good way to close your community could be a goal setting program, use your experiences and insights of your residents to suggest ways to meaningfully prepare for the future. Work hard, and don’t look back because you are so close to well deserved travels and vacation time this Summer.
Virgo (August 22 – September 22)
The Mercury retrograde could indicate you are interested in creating a new opportunity for yourself. Blessings come to you from those around you. Venus favoring Pluto could be indicative of you enjoying decorating.
Partner up with a fellow advisor or council member and close your communities together. A good idea for a program would be a floor decoration event to make sure the end of your year is as colourful as the start.
Libra (September 22 – October 23)
Eclipse patterns going back and forth over the axis of your horoscope could explain strange feelings you have had since last October. April will place an emphasis on relationships and developing new connections.
Whatever you do to close your community we support it. However place an extra emphasis on connecting and finding ways to explore relationships with residents that you are less close with. Â
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
Take extra precautions towards your health, whether it’s physical or mental. Don’t be afraid to change your habits, or your daily schedule. You may be a little more emotional, due to concerns you have for those around you.
Close off your community with personalized check in’s, see what each person in your community as they head out of residence and into their next year/graduation. Take extra care to talk about emotions and feelings, to ensure that everyone on your floor is feeling healthy and supported as we finish the year.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Don’t allow fears and insecurities or disappointments from the past block the goals you are seeking. Challenge avenues to explore your own creativity. Anything that you begin between now to the end of May will be successful. It’s your time to shine.
Close off your community with a program that you may have been too afraid to do in the past, it’s almost the end of the year and you have nothing to lose! Seek this challenge out, and you will be rewarded. Â
Capricorn (December 21 – January 21)
You are curren
tly worrying with issues in your community, and how the end of the year may look. However when Saturn leaves Cancer in July, things will improve. Venus favouring Pluto should empower you to accomplish whatever goals you have set for yourself.
Much like Sagittarius, now is a great time to tackle your fears and inhibitions – make the end of your year a great opportunity to explore new ideas and crush goals that you have held onto for your community for the longest time.
Aquarius (January 21 – February 18)
Now is a very busy time for you – so you may find yourself letting go, and trying to avoid meaningful interactions. This is an amazing eclipse to begin a new hobby or job.
It’s so close to the end of the year – but don’t give up! Power through the end of the year, and don’t slow down. To close your community, start a new hobby with a group of residents – this could be a great opportunity for you to continue the bonding and learning with that group of residents.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
You are entering a time of new possibilities and new doors being opened. Now is a great opportunity to begin writing and teaching. Commit this time to creating the community and life that you really want to have.
Closing off the year, do some research on cool things to do with your community. Don’t leave any opportunity un-researched, through doing this you will find great ways to connect with your residents and provide new opportunities for them.
Ultimately no matter what you do remember this. You have just had such an incredible year of growth, have these experiences and challenges you’ve surpassed inform what you do. As long as your closing off your community is personalized to the needs reflected by your community – there is no wrong move.