Andres Sorto Godoy

Why did you choose to be an RA or DA and what has been the most fulfilling part of your experience?

I chose to be an RA because of my experience in RLC my freshman year. I enjoyed seeing the  sense of community that was built through the programs I hosted and in my role as an RA,  that feeling has only grown. Being able to continue to create that community in my building  with more resources and help from my staff has been the most fulfilling part of being an RA.   A specific example of how I have been able to accomplish creating a community in that  fulfilling way is my work with Belk's RLC last year. After meeting with the members of the  RLC and gauging what they would be interested in seeing, they arrived at the conclusion  that they wanted a ping pong table for Belk. I helped them with their request to RSA for the  funds and they saw it through, eventually getting the ping pong table for their community. I  was able to see the impact that had on the RLC members who presented, who were so  proud of their work and furthermore the appreciation from the community. That ping pong  table which will remain in Belk until it no longer works will continue to create opportunities  for a sense of community to grow in Belk long after I've graduated. 

How do you manage your academics, leadership roles, and extracurriculars with your RA or DA job?

I keep a detailed google calendar as well as a physical agenda so that I have two ways to  keep track of my responsibilities (which include due dates, meetings, etc.) and am able to  cross reference off of each other in case one is missing something. These tools help me plan  ahead of time when I can work on said responsibilities. I also keep a mental note of  prioritization between different responsibilities (i.e. academics then RA, then everything  else) and use that to make judgements about when to handle what responsibility. 

How has the RA or DA role developed you personally and professionally?

Being an RA has allowed me to make connections that would not have been possible  without the position. I have made lifelong friends with varying perspectives, which is  incredibly valuable for growth both personally and professionally. The RA role has also led  to me becoming more confident and comfortable dealing with difficult situations, which  involve problem solving and conflict resolution. Not only has the role made me more  confident in those situations, but it has also made me a more confident person overall.