With Commencement nearing, University of Delaware Residence Life and Housing is recognizing the graduating resident assistants who have made significant contributions to not only their complexes but also their staffs.

Nominated by their supervisors, these RAs have built strong connections with their residents; created or partnered on successful engagement initiatives; and/or impacted their staffs in a positive way.

Two RAs from Independence Complex – Jenn Azevedo and Rachael Cooper – are being recognized. 

Azevedo is a triple major in psychology, sociology and Spanish. She is a second-year RA in James Smith. Cooper is a third-year RA in Independence East majoring in nursing.

Q: How has being an RA added to your UD experience?

Azevedo: Being an RA has given me unmatched discipline. It is very difficult to juggle a college student schedule as is. When you add in a job that can be extremely demanding, there is no room for error. Being an RA has given me amazing role models. I have learned and grown so much in my two years, while being surrounded by some of the best people on the planet in my staff, my supervisors, and our administration; being an amazing group of friends in a staff that I would never trade for the world.

Cooper: Being an RA has introduced me to people I probably never would have met otherwise and it has stretched me as a person. Many of the residents I had in the past are now friends that I catch up with from time-to-time, and that has been especially rewarding – to know that your relationship extends beyond residence hall walls. 

I've had incredible staffs and such supportive supervisors that have guided me but also challenged me to keep growing. I cannot imagine what my college experience would have looked like if I hadn't been an RA. It has brought me joy, laughter, challenges, and growth that I'm not sure I would have experienced otherwise.

Q: What is one (at least one) thing that you’ve accomplished – whether as an RA or UD student – that you’re proud of?

Azevedo: "Council member Jenn Azevedo was acknowledged for single handedly raising more money from fellow seniors than any council member has ever done in the past."

Cooper: One of the things I am proudest of as both an RA and UD student is how I have managed to continue growing in my faith throughout my time as a college student. Despite having many responsibilities as an RA and a challenging nursing curriculum, I have been surrounded by a community that has helped me learn more about God and Jesus and how to live out that faith in everything I do. College can be rough, but I'm really thankful that I've been supported and able to keep my faith as a priority over these last few years.

Q: What is one challenge as an RA/UD student you’ve overcome this year? Or, how have you challenged yourself?  

Azevedo: This year, I was promoted to Mentor Resident Assistant (MRA). With the promotion, I was given a co-MRA to work with. My co-MRA and I have extremely different communication styles. This year, we spend a lot of time learning how to communicate effectively and also foster a personal relationship in the meantime. I am extremely grateful for this experience because I know that I learned skills that I will be able to implement as I move forward in the professional world.

Cooper: One of my challenges as an RA this year was figuring out how to balance my nursing clinicals with supporting my residents and staff, in addition to classes. It was challenging being off-campus all day (or all night in my last rotation) and coming home exhausted and still wanting to support my residents. I've learned to reach out through Post-it notes, texts, and messages to stay in touch and up-to-date with my residents, but it definitely was hard at times. 

Additionally, this year, I have challenged myself to continued education on issues surrounding race, as I think it is important that I help others feel heard in the adversities they face, and that I do a better job of trying to understand.

Q: Any advice to your fellow RAs to make through their senior years? 

Azevedo: Enjoy every moment. It goes by quickly and you may hate having to practice for lip sync for the sixth hour, but it's the last one. You will miss it all when you're about to leave. Take it all in and don't take any of it for granted.

Cooper: My advice would be to not check out. Senior year is fun, exciting, and stressful as we prepare to enter the "real" world but there is still a lot of time to make an impact and show residents that they matter. Don't underestimate the influence you have or forget how it feels to know somebody believes in you. Be that somebody for your residents and your staff. 

Senior events will come and go and you should enjoy them, but as Maya Angelou once said, “At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

Q: What are you looking forward to after graduation? 

Azevedo: I was born and raised in Delaware. After graduation, I will be spending nine days in Italy, eight days in Pittsburgh, taking a few weekend trips, and then moving to Indianapolis to pursue my master's degree in higher education and student affairs. I am so ready to spread my wings and see what else is on the horizon for me.

Cooper: I am looking forward to taking some time off and spending time with family and friends. It'll be really great to be home for a little while before I begin my next adventure as a registered nurse.