By Ceth Reeves
It is my love for housing that has led me to work in the same place for going on six years. It feels great and terrible at the same time. As you know, there's so much out there, but you just can't shake the place you live now: the people you love, the people you hate, all in the same small town.
I work and go to school at Northern Arizona University (NAU), where I got my B.S. in psychology and where I will get my Master's in Counseling Student Affairs (CSA). I worked as a student employee fixing and delivering furniture and as a resident assistant, the job that gives you free housing and food to take care of the people living in the building: four years as a furniture fixer and two years as a support for on-campus students. When I decided I wanted to get my master's degree and keep supporting students, I applied and was accepted into the CSA program. Now, as a graduate assistant, I supervise the furniture-fixing employee staff that I once was part of.
I was supposed to graduate and leave my assistantship in May 2025, but the craziest thing happened. It was completely my fault. I applied for a full-time position at NAU, and I got it. So now I'm transitioning out of my graduate assistantship to become a full-time building coordinator. Again, this is amazing but, wow, I've been here for a while. The question of staying here or going isn't even a question anymore. I am staying for at least another three years. Is that okay? Will I be content for these next three years?
One thing I have grown to understand about being in the same place for a long time is that everyone encourages you to move on – not because they don't want you there but because there is a whole world out there to explore and enjoy. There are so many experiences to be had, people to meet, and fun to have. Those comments where people tell me to get out of here and get different experiences might have gotten to me, and I might have started to think about that, too. It's not like they're wrong; they are right. Going out and experiencing the world, traveling, and doing new things is important.
But despite the push to leave, I'm still here. Is that bad? No, of course not. I have enjoyed my time here, and when I'm ready to explore, I will. There's more time for life than people think they have, which doesn't mean go and waste it. But it does mean being patient and enjoying where you are. Your time may be finite, but that does not mean rush it.
So long story short, I'll be staying at Northern Arizona for a bit longer, but it's not so bad. I'll make it a fun time and enjoy the small-town college life at least until I make enough money to buy a car. I can’t exactly get out of here on my bike.
Ceth Reeves is a facility services graduate assistant in campus living at Northern Arizona University. He was a participant in ACUHO-I’s 2024 Campus Housing Internship Program.