Student Assistant Personal Statement

As a first-generation student, I am significantly influenced by the Student Affairs staff at my undergraduate institution. When I arrived at Ramapo College, I quickly realized I was not prepared for college-level work, if it were not for the Educational Opportunity Fund Program, I would have felt lost and would have struggled both academically and financially. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have had many Student Affairs professionals guide me to academic success and personal development. As a result, I made the conscious effort to work with the minority students on campus and accepted the position as a Resident Program Assistant for the EOF program. I worked with a diverse population of students where the majority came from low-income communities who had the potential to perform college level coursework. While
Growing up, I did not have too many positive influences in my life, I never had anybody to look up to until I met her. My supervisor served as mentor, big sister and friend all in one. She led by example and possessed all the qualities I wished to have. Even though my supervisor worked over 25 hours a week and was enrolled in a full-time graduate program in Rutgers, she always went out of her way to get to know me personally and shared her experiences with me. As my supervisor, she knew my strengths, weaknesses, and my abilities. During times where I felt like giving up, she pushed me to discover more about my own capabilities and my potential. We would schedule study sessions together and had bi-weekly one-on-one meetings where we were able to discuss academics and social life. She shared her skills and knowledge and provided constructive feedback. In turn, it is essential for me to work with students, I want to empower them in order to make college a positive experience despite any obstacles they might encounter along the