What is your routine for the first few hours of your day?
I wake up with my alarm, but I love to lounge around for the first 20 to 30 minutes of the day. I read or catch up on messages that I’ve missed before starting my day. When it’s time to get up, I brew some coffee before tackling my morning routine. The last thing I do before heading out the door is check on my beloved plants, Marcus and Jisung.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that changed your perspective?
The best movie ever made is George Miller’s 2015 masterpiece Mad Max: Fury Road. I watch the film multiple times a year, and I just watched it recently. I feel like I discover something new every time I watch it. A lesson that I consistently take away is the importance of showing up for others. Max often drifts through the post-apocalyptic wasteland with the single goal of survival. But when he encounters someone who needs help, he shakes off his jaded worldview and does what he can to assist them. Despite what he’s been through, he always does his best to help. I think this is a valuable lesson that everyone can learn from.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your career?
A former supervisor once told me that I can be passionate about my job, but it should not rule my life. I love what I do, and I adore working with students. This job has high highs, but it also has low lows. I cannot take every difficulty that I encounter home with me, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that I do not care or that I do not want to help.
What is your favorite campus dining hall meal?
I love a good BLT, and Dulany Dining Hall at Columbia College has a wonderful deli and sandwich selection. They do not disappoint!
What is something that someone has done for you lately for which you were most grateful?
I am forever grateful to my friends who go out of their way to support me. We have fantastic conversations where we do our best to uplift one another. Sometimes our conversations are just about listening to each other. Other times, our conversations center on offering advice. Sometimes we review past decisions to re-evaluate what we would do in the future. Other times, we celebrate our wins. I am thankful for the friends who continue to show up for me and help me make my choices.
What tool does every campus housing pro need to know how to use, and when was the last time you used it?
Residence halls are a home away from home for many students. The most essential tool is listening to the residents. Sometimes we have to hear past the words they’re saying and take note of body language and tone. Our residents are often trying to communicate something to us, and sometimes they do not know how. I do my best to have patience with each student as I work through various difficulties with them.
What was your favorite class when you were a student?
I loved my theater classes the most, as they often yielded the best assignments. One was reading Euripides’ “The Bacchae.” I remember toasting Dionysus with sparkling grape juice on a stage as we read. In that moment, I felt completely connected to the world of ancient Greek tragedy. Another fun example was memorizing a Shakespearean monologue (I chose “All the World’s a Stage” from As You Like It) and delivering it as a TED Talk. I loved learning about different cultures and world views through plays and musicals.
What hobby would you pursue if time and money were no object?
My current favorite hobby is watching movies, whether that be via streaming or going to the cinema. If time and money were no object, I would live at the cinema. There were times in my life that I would watch movies back-to-back, creating my own mini film festival. I enjoy visiting commercial chains, but I’d also love to visit more independent cinemas. I think that the Hi-Pointe Theatre in St. Louis might be my favorite place in the world.
What is your favorite tradition from any campus where you have worked?
My favorite tradition on Columbia College’s campus is the Ivy Chain Ceremony held during graduation weekend. Associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree candidates have an ivy chain draped over their shoulders, symbolizing the graduates’ connection with the college and their fellow classmates. Despite not graduating from Columbia College, I feel connected to this tradition as I participated in an Ivy Chain Ceremony of my own when I graduated from Greenville University.
What song do you count on to hype you up to start the day or help you celebrate at the end of a long one?
A song that I love playing at the end of the day is “Journey Mercies” by Mark [Lee]. It’s my favorite song from his debut album, and it’s like a warm and comforting hug that never fails to lift my spirits. The lyrics are a reminder that I’m blessed by guidance and protection while going through life.
Regina Sanders is a residential life director at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri.
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