Hi Vanier,
I hope you’re having a great term so far and enjoyed all the Halloween festivities.
I’ve had a chance to meet many of your since Opening Day, but I still have a lot of people to meet. If you don’t remember me, I’m the person that was running to all 12 houses during your house meetings on the first weekend you were here. Seeing as I was attempting to make it to all 12 houses, I didn’t get to say much and wanted to take the time to tell you a little more about me and my job here.
My title is Residence Life Manager (aka: RLM) and my office is located in the Commonsblock. I am a professional staff member and I work full time to create the best possible place for you to study and live in at Place Vanier Residence. I supervise the Residence Coordinators and Residence Advisors and work closely with the PVRA. I collaborate with the Front Desk, Building Services and Food Services to ensure we provide the best possible service to you, the residents that live here. I love being able to live and work at UBC even after graduating from here, because I get to meet awesome students like you from all over the world, and attend the great programs that RAs and council put on. The part of my job that most of you may have heard about is meeting with students about standards violations. These meetings do have their perks. Many of you would never talk to me if you didn’t have to so these meetings are a great way to meet you! (However, I do welcome the opportunity to meet you not on those terms…)
By now, you’ve had a chance to see how life in Residence works. I’m sure you’ve noticed the differences from here and at home. There are probably some things you love about residence and some things you miss from home. I’ve lived in Vanier for many years now. While my experience changes each time I’m living here in a different role, I want to share with you the top ten things I appreciate about residence:
- You’ve made new friends…and it’s so easy for you to see them!
- The dining hall has so many exciting new options every day – like the daily Congee specials.
- The bathroom is cleaned for you… enough said. Trust me; you’ll miss it once you have to clean your own bathroom.
- If you want to talk at 2am, you can probably walk down the hall and find someone else who is also up.
- It’s easy to find a place nearby to study. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to procrastinate and avoid studying, just for breaks.
- If you ever need help with a subject (like my challenge from undergrad – O-Chem), there is likely someone in your house that can help you out. Check out iStudy if you can’t find someone.
- University is not all about the books and classes. Every week, Advisors and the PVRA plan activities for you…and most of the time, they’re free.
- You never have to watch TV alone… and we all know Modern Family and hockey games (cheering on the Canucks if you’re a fan like me) are much more enjoyable when other people are around.
- You can get up for class 20 minutes before your class begins…and you can come home for a nap between classes. My favourite was running to class across the street to the Geography building.
- There is always someone to turn in Place Vanier to if you need support – the Advisors, the Residence Coordinators, the Front Desk staff, myself, AMS Tutoring, the Nurse, Chaplains, and so many others. Whether or not you use the services, you are supported in residence.
Regardless of where you come from, it takes some time to adjust to living in residence and it takes some people more time than others. You can learn a lot here, and not just in the classroom. You can learn about study skills, essay writing, and study at Study Hall in the Dining Hall, you can learn about healthy eating and how to make the most of the Dining Hall, you can learn that if your upset or frustrated, there are people you can talk to on your floor and around Vanier but most of all, you will learn that the onus is on you. If you want to learn, you have to make that choice and take advantage of the resources that are available to you. Put yourself out there, get out and get into all that Place Vanier and UBC have to offer.
Stop by my office in the Commonsblock and say hi! Or even just wave as you pass by!
Happy November, Vanier!
– Joey
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