Beginning of the new journey!

The preparation for my/our journey had already been started. The dinner before all the PA's departed added some curiosity as well as some level of nervousness inside me. Reading the books assigned and the two week training was incredible. The day before all my new residents moved in, I felt like I wasn't ready yet. But, the night was over and I met most of them at the Rec Center and couple of them in their rooms with their parents. It was really exciting to see them when they moved in. It was a new journey for all of them as a college students and it was new journey for me as a PA. The interaction with all the students was really amazing. I was really happy to see them together. At the end of the move-in day, Lutana and I were walking on the pavement and we met parents of one of the student. Both of them had tears in their eyes. That kind of reminded me of my mom when I left home few years back to college, to a new country and a beginning of the new journey. I couldn't hold myself and I offered a hug to one of the parents who had tears in her eyes. That moment, I realized what I was getting into. The students that will be living in my community are not just college students but also the the hopes of their family, the community we live in,  and the future of our world.

There were a lot of moments which I savored and I will focus more on what I and the students needs to work on. I saw some of the student just open up right away and they were talking with each other. Some were in high school together or knew each others friend. But, some were completely new and were struggling to connect with each other. I still need to work on figuring out ways to include everyone and doesn't feels left out. I need to find a way or a group exercise that enables to realize the people around them and the differences they have. I have noticed, when some of the student talk, they completely forget who is around. I noticed couple of incidence where a single student was targeted for being different of not participating in group activities behind their back (not direct). The biggest issue that I see is to use words that are derogatory towards a particular group of people (like in the picture-the use of the word targeting women). I am troubled to see the lack of awareness, insensitivity and lack of identity among the students. But, at the same time, I am hoping that will change over time and I can be part of their identity exploration. I hope as a community and with the support from everyone around me, we will be able to confront those issues, challenge the students and raise the awareness to next level.