Kayelyn Jett

 

 

Definition: A person who evaluates all possibilities/alternatives and applies their creativity and skills to arrive at an elegant answer which eliminates an issue or streamlines a process.

 

Criteria: Creative, resilient, hard-working, analytical, strategic and adaptable.

 

Situation: During my sophomore year, I joined the Residence Hall Staff Council, the executive council of the Resident Advisors (RAs) at my university. My position, Staff Programming Chair, entailed recruiting fellow RAs to attend programs to promote unity and development across the 160 RA body.

 

Task: Within the 24 RA staffs, the RAs were tremendously connected and excited; but, as a whole, the RA body could not be more disconnected and disinterested. As I evaluated my position and its corresponding duties, I realized the role was more than executing 2 programs per semester in addition to a Field Day. It was truly about building connections in a disconnected group.

 

Action: First, I sought an understanding of the people I was serving and their needs by polling all of the Resident Advisors for my first program. I advertised for my program through three waves of marketing efforts. Despite all of my efforts, the attendance at my program was still dismally low. Unwilling to resort to defeat, I decided to approach the problem from a different angle. I ventured outside of my comfort zone to discuss the problem directly with as many RAs as possible. Then for my next program, with the help of the council and the input I gathered, I executed a carnival for the RAs complete with a cotton candy machine, popcorn machine, and inflatables! However, I did not account for all the contingencies. During the carnival, I experienced weather delays, power outages, and upset students.

 

Result: This growth mindset helped me not only develop as a person, but also create a successful last program.  Field Day was successful because I implemented the lessons culminated throughout the year, attempted to plan for the unexpected, and put my own personality into the event by integrating a powder paint fight at the end of the program! 

 

Takeaway: Although this was incredibly frustrating, I opted to grow from the experience and gain valuable knowledge from it. I learned problems are never simple and often get deeper and wider as you dig into them. This taught me to approach problems from as many angles as possible and learn from my mistakes. However, as I reflect on the experience, I realize the strength of the motivation which carried me through and the importance of cheerfully investigating problems deeper.