Spring semester means application season. Last month, most leadership applications were due to fill next year’s positions. Interviews will wrap up later this month. With Decision Doomsday coming up on March 5, here are some tips from current student leaders.
Resident Adviser: Melissa Sanchez
Photo credit: Kelyn Struiksma
After rooming with a resident adviser last year, senior social work major Melissa Sanchez could not pass up the opportunity to end her college experience by continuing to build the relationships she made with the freshman class. Sanchez is currently an RA in University Park’s A-Court.
Sanchez said she screamed coming out of the Starbucks restroom when she received the message confirming her RA position for fall 2013 after a lot of prayer and support.
“It was a really nerve-racking experience and once it came, it didn’t even feel real,” Sanchez said. “Sometimes I still can’t believe this is what I am doing. It is a job that doesn’t really end. It’s a lifestyle.”
Sanchez said the time she spends with her residents outweigh the sometimes-sleepless nights. Being an RA is hard and not as glamorous as it seems, she said.
“If you don’t have the heart for it, then you’re not going to enjoy it,” Sanchez said. “New challenges come every day with balancing schedules and making sure that I am meeting everybody’s needs while solidifying those friendships I have made throughout the years.”
Sanchez defines the best RA as someone who is available, flexible and willing to do the Lord’s work in the living area at all times. Sanchez encourages RA applicants to have a strong support system both at and outside APU.
“Have a lot of self-awareness when you do get accepted,” Sanchez said. “Starting the process right away of figuring out who you are and what kind of person you are in certain situations is really helpful.”
While at Walkabout, the mandatory residence life summer retreat, Sanchez survived despite her lack of previous camping experience. It was during her training when she recognized the community that this leadership role builds.
“I have been so blessed specifically with my staff,” Sanchez said. “With all of the different strengths and personalities they bring, they have become great friends.”
Alpha Leader: Sebastian Boehm
Photo credit: Kelyn Struiksma
Sophomore nursing major Sebastian Boehm recently accepted an Alpha coordinator position with the Office of Orientation and Transitions after his role in the Alpha program this past fall.
“Alpha takes time and Alpha takes a piece of your heart,” Boehm said. “To me, Alpha was 100 percent worth it by getting to pour my heart into my Alphies.”
He applied for Alpha because he wanted to invest in the lives of freshmen after his leader was so influential in his freshman experience.
According to Boehm, there is no ideal Alpha leader; instead, this position is for people who want to love both people and Jesus.
“You have to be willing to love people for where they are at and love them for who they are, setting aside all pre-judgments,” Boehm said. “Also, you have to love Jesus and know you can’t be a leader without him in your life. We can’t lead on our own, but with God in front of us following His path.”
Boehm encourages current freshmen to be prayerful in this season of leadership applications and to follow his life motto of “trusting God’s plan.”
“Whether you get Alpha or not, know that God’s plan is always perfect,” Boehm said. “He knows what He’s doing even if you may feel discouraged if you don’t get Alpha, or encouraged and nervous if you get Alpha. As long as you put your trust and faith in God, He will take care of you.”
SALT Representative: Emily Yang
Photo credit: Kelyn Struiksma
SALT representatives work for the Office of Chapel Programs and are broken into four different teams: Kaleo, Liturgical, Spiritual Transformation and D-Groups. Sophomore biblical studies major Emily Yang is a part of the Kaleo SALT team. According to the chapel programs job description, Yang “contributes to the worship experience of Kaleo chapel through creativity, artistic expression and logical support.”
“Something really unique and awesome about SALT is that you’re not always in the spotlight,” Yang said. “It’s a really humbling experience and I would encourage anybody to apply because it’s not your typical APU experience.”
Yang describes her affiliation with SALT as an opportunity to serve the student body and APU community without a large time commitment. The Kaleo team meets biweekly to prepare for Wednesday night chapel.
Every Monday, Yang and the rest of the team gather with Lead Campus Pastor Woody Morwood and Assistant Campus Pastor Jason Le Shana to decide what message is most relevant to the students each week.
“[Morwood] is a pastor [who] wants to invest in the lives of students,” Yang said. “It’s really great to work with him.”
The Kaleo SALT team consists of 12 members with different majors and backgrounds. Yang said through these differences, their common denominator is a shared passion for Scripture.
“It’s really great to be in fellowship with people who are very intentional about delving into the Scripture and having deep theological conversations,” Yang said.
Being a SALT representative is a yearlong commitment. According to Yang, the interview process is primarily based on finding people who are not only invested in their personal faith, but are passionate in seeing the APU community grow.
D-Group Leader: Stephen Jackson
Photo credit: Kelyn Struiksma
Sophomore communication studies major Stephen Jackson filled his community void by getting involved with discipleship ministry through the Chapel Programs Office. Jackson has previous leadership experience and wanted to continue developing his faith while investing in others at APU.
Currently Jackson mentors nine freshmen males and describes his overall experience to be more rewarding than he expected.
“Trying to put God first in everything is definitely difficult in being a student leader, but that is just something your have to work through,” Jackson said. “Recognize that it will be time-consuming, but it is also going to help strengthen your walk because you will be relying on God constantly.”
Through the difficult times, Jackson found support through his mentor, a high school youth pastor. According to Jackson, having a mentor has been helpful in exchanging “frustrations and praise reports.”
“Whenever you have a leadership position, such as D-Group, you are going to be insecure about how well you are doing and what you can improve on,” Jackson said. “Someone who has been in the same style of leadership position has feedback and can help you from their past experiences.”
Jackson explains a helpful practice for interested leaders is to find the time to be alone and “reflect on who God is and what God is trying to tell you.”
D-Group leaders are also supported by their SALT team, which works to help direct leaders and assist in program logistics.
“You are new to this process and to this new group of people who are looking for a mentorship and community based on brotherly love for Christ,” Jackson said. “Second-guessing myself on which course to take my D-Group on was probably the biggest struggle as a leader.”
Chapel programs welcomes those interested in becoming a D-Group leader with open arms, according to Jackson.
“If you are serious about your faith, serious about developing other people’s faith, helping people through their struggles and want to become some sort of mentor, then D-Group is a great place to start,” Jackson said.