Of all these traditional campus events, homecoming is the monstrosity that each year encourages me to re-evaluate my life and this current career choice. This year was no exception. See I live and work in a freshmen women’s dorm as a Resident Director (RD)…that’s right it’s me and 150 other eighteen year old hormonal young ladies. I know I should get an award for that alone, right?
Anyway I digress, back to homecoming. Where I come from this is the biggest deal of the academic year. The college I work for is steeped in traditions and fun surrounding this annual affair. It begins with the preparations weeks before this blessed event. My staff and I meet. We toss around various creative and sometimes outlandish ideas for dorm decorating and float decorating competitions. Once we have hammered out a game plan, we gather the troops.
Knocking on doors, pleading with the girls to come and help us with everything from making banners and cardboard cutouts of all our favorite college icons to working on papier-mâché, creating various structures for our float. And then there is the glitter…Lord we can’t forget the glitter. While all of this is happening, I am there to provide for there every need whether it be multiple trips to Walmart in a day to stock up on more glitter or just providing them with sugary treats to keep their blood sugar high and their energy going.
Now I know all of this seems a bit silly and over the top to you, but in this little world of mine Homecoming is a BIG deal. Everything is a competition between dorms and our pride is on the line. We are in it to win it, not just the individual competitions, but the whole thing…the Grand Poobah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand%20Poobah) of it all, the Homecoming Grand Champion Trophy.
Yes, that gleaming metallic gold cup made up of mixed scrap metals and screwed onto that statuesque wooden base is what keeps me and my staff sleep deprived and ignoring all other real work for weeks on end. For to win that trophy would give us serious bragging rights among all other dorms and the rest of the residence life staff for the entire year and years to come, especially since this year was the first year that the Homecoming Grand Champion cup was instituted.
And wouldn’t you know it, after several ideation meetings, countless trips to Walmart, endless days of working 14+ hours, and watching my entire social life go into hibernation I am thrilled to say that we won. Yes, my very own little freshmen dorm pulled it together and won the Grand Champion Homecoming Trophy.
It was the sweetest of moments when my staff and I were informed of this honorary title. Joyous laughter and tears filled the dorm….okay so maybe the scene wasn’t that dramatic. Still, it was one of those rare moments that reminds me why love this job.
As my staff and I eagerly went to receive our prize, we were stunned when we found the plaque on our glimmering trophy read “Homecoming Grand Cahmpion.” After ceaseless days of pouring out our blood, sweat and tears they couldn’t even spell it right. Classic. Oh…life at a small liberal arts college. Part of me isn’t surprised in the least and honestly it makes me love winning this trophy even more.
It’s safe to say that no one gets into this job for the month of October. Multiple trips to Wal-Mart, late nights and weekend after weekend on-call doesn’t really scream dream job. Still, amidst all the chaos I am blessed with an appreciation and love for the work I do. Being responsible for freshmen I feel it is my obligation to ensure they have a great first year of college experience, and more important than that I want to make sure they have a memorable first semester. Homecoming is a crucial part of that and I think it’s safe to say that my dorm really came together that week, even it was working toward a silly trophy that wasn’t even proof read before engraving. I am so blessed.
-Nicole
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