You probably thought Part 1 was a lot. Well, let me tell you… Part 2 may be shorter, but it’s still got the same juice the first part had.
This post’s featured photo is an empty Sunset Village ARD office. I was the last one to move out, and I prepped it for the new people coming into SV for the next year. Sad moment, but new adventures to come.
Week 44:
NRHH Awards Banquet: So remember when I talked about how my boss (RD) is cool? Well, she’s so cool that she won Advisor of the Year. Also, the Faculty-in-Residence for Courtside also won a big award at the National Residence Hall Honorary Awards Banquet. Basically, Courtside took home lots of fancy awards this year.
Tea Program: Passion Program #3 was about tea, where one of my RGCs hosted something similar to a pop-up shop. She was in the tunnel with a water heater and different types of tea. There was sleeves for the cups; five different sleeves with names of the different kinds of tea being served and what the health benefits of each were.
Destress & Popcorn Program: The last Passion Program of the quarter was a de-stress event. There was popcorn that you could drizzle with chocolate or caramel (or both), DIY stress balls made with balloons and flour, and make your own Polaroid string decoration. It was a good way to end the year of programming and still accommodate to the needs of students.
Raj’s Bday: Raj guilt-tripped me (and I almost fell for it) by telling me how he went out with me twice for my birthday, so I should be going out for his birthday too. I didn’t go, so major #FOMO, but ILY Raj.
Transition Binder: I prepped a full transition binder of materials for next year’s Courtside ARD. Essentially, I wanted to prepare something the would make them feel better and feel competent about their transition into Courtside. Anything and everything in terms of materials was put into the binder and wanted to make sure if they flipped open the binder, they had everything they needed. Yes, it was hella extra.
Wango Tango: Get you friends who take you with them to Wango Tango (or any concert really). Okay, but in all seriousness… one, TYSM Yahir for taking me. Two, I died and went to heaven seeing the Backstreet Boys like 50-feet away from me, live. Do you know when I last saw them was? In 2011! They were in their NKOTBSB concert tour and their performance was the one where Kevin Richardson came back. I skipped out on everything (I left my mom in my room lol) to go see the Backstreet Boys. I mean, everyone else was cool too – ARIANA LIVE IS AMAZING – but I liiiiiiiived for the Backstreet Boys. Okay, I’m done now. lol.
Prom on the Hill: Second the last event I was an advisor for with Programming Board. This program recreates an iconic high school event, prom. Of course, there’s much less fancy food but it’s free and there’s more activities. Also, there’s no Prom King or Prom Queen.
25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee: This was the last of my Programming Board events this year, and it was a Theater Season show. Another one filled with music, but this was all originals.
Week 45:
CS Team EOY Celebration: I can’t believe the end of the year came so quickly. All the the activities, the celebrations, the successes, and everything in between was being culminated at our end of the year celebration. This is where we got to sit down and just talk amongst each other for the last time. Everyone received gifts, Superlative Awards, and we took lots of pictures. The seniors got their ResLife cord and blankets with their name embroidered. It was just a really beautiful way to celebrate the end of the year. I’m so grateful for my team because they were a group of students that should me a warm welcome to UCLA and taught me so much more than what I probably taught them. They are the reason this year was truly a wonderful experience.
PB Team EOY Celebration: My second team. As much as I loved my Courtside team, this year wouldn’t have been complete without my Programming Board team. They were a group of students that had the same passion and the same drive that my own Courtside staff had or the work they do.
Conduct, solo case: You would think that because it’s leading up to Finals Week that there wouldn’t really be any conduct cases, but 22 Hours of Quiet definitely catches some people. Anyway, this one was all me – no shadowing. Thankfully, it went as smoothly as I could’ve asked for.
Ocean’s 8: I went to a movie showing that wasn’t in the theatre in Westwood. If you haven’t seen Ocean’s 8, go see it.
Hitch Food For Finals + EOY CandyLand: Dimitri wanted to me to be able to see what Food for Finals in Hitch looks like, so immediately after Ocean’s 8, I went up to Hitch and spent the time with Dimitri and the current Hitch team for their Food For Finals/End of Year event. I also got to bond with some of my team members for next year, so that was fun.
Tristan’s BDay: Another cousin’s birthday. This one turned 10.
Week 46:
Last Food For Finals: TBH, this whole year has been a lot of food and a lot of money when it comes to Food For Finals, but it’s always enjoyable. The company of the SV Trifecta is probably going to always be one of my favorites. Not to mention, genuinely enjoy being around the other RGCs from Delta and Canyon.
EOY Department Celebration: I decided to be a part of the End of the Year Task Group in putting together the ResLife End of the Year Celebration. Raj and I were in charge of decorations and one of the activities. For decorations, we replicated decorations from another event using tall vases with sticks/branches, blue water beads, and flowers in yellow and white. It was a very UCLA themed. We wanted it to be very aesthetically pleasing, but we wanted a touch of freshness – that’s what the flowers were for. For the activity, we hosted a game called Shadow of a Doubt (ResLife edition). A YouTube video is hyperlinked if you’re unfamiliar with the concept. The people we used in the game are all people from all over ResLife with varying pictures and clues that could help participants figure out who the shadow is. Most of the people were actually pretty easy to figure out. I’m not as good as a game show host as Kevin, but Raj and I were okay.
B&G Star Award: I was surprised to learn that I got a Blue and Gold Star Award. Blue & Gold Star awards are nominated by other folks in the department and are awarded to people who help make a difference in some way, shape, or form in the department for residents and colleagues. If you remember a past blog post, I had talked about assisting with Apartment RA interviewing process, and it turns out I got nominated for one. It was one of those things what I was in shock to receive just because I didn’t expect it. I guess you don’t really expect awards anyway. But here’s a fancy email. Hehe (I felt cool).
ARD EOY shaBANG: I can’t believe that this was our last ARD celebration of the year. I felt like I developed such a positive relationship with the ARDs this year, and it’s kind of sad it was coming to an end. I think I’m saddest about the people I got closest to leaving. However, I’m still happy because I felt like this year gave me a new group of lifelong friends.
Grad Gown Ironing: A tradition that has been happening in ResLife for a long time, but a first for me. In this event, ProStaff sets up a room full of ironing boards and irons then our seniors come to get their graduation gown ironed by their supervisor(s). It had been a year since graduation and I felt so happy that I got to be a part of such a ceremonious event. I almost cried five teams – one for every one of my Courtside staff members that showed up in their graduation gear.
Week 47:
Kevin’s done with his Masters! I just want to thank Kevin for letting me take all his dorky graduation photos. I’m sharing my favorite one because I feel like it’s kind of a reputation of Kevin’s year and how challenging this year was. Also because I want him to be able to share his own great pictures on his own time. Kevin being a full-time Resident Coordinator and a full-time graduate student has really inspired me that it is possible to handle things and mange all the challenges that come people’s way. Kevin has had a taste of it all and I’m so proud to see him finish because he deserves it. He’s one of the most hardworking people I have ever met and I just want him to know I appreciate him – by sharing this terrible photo from the set of grad photos I took.
Star Award: I apparently got nominated for another fancy award, but I don’t know the details of it. I just know it was the reason I got a comma in my paycheck (SUCH A DREAM COME TRUE) and I finally got to put money in my Savings account.
Tomorrow is my first day (officially) as the Hitch ARD. I technically started doing work for Hitch sometime ago, but on myResLife, I didn’t move buildings until July 1st – so here I am. I’m so excited to be starting a new year and to navigate another year of being an ARD, but this time more knowledgeable and more experienced. I feel more confident in what I’ll be able to tackle this time around.
Until next time,
ARD Jamrensze “J-Mi” De Leon
Stories of the Reign 