WHEN I THINK ABOUT RESIDENCE LIFE, IT'S THE ONLY TIME IN LIFE WHERE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO MODEL A LIFESTYLE WORTH LIVING AS PEERS OF THE SAME DISCOURSE COMMUNITY. IN MY TIME AS A RESIDENT ASSISTANT IN VICTOR MCCORMICK RESIDENCE HALL, I SERVED AS AN IN-HALL ROLE MODEL, MENTOR, CONFLICT MANAGER, AND PROGRAM PLANNER IN A RESIDENCE HALL THAT HOUSED OVER 700  FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS.  WORKING WITHIN THE FIRST-YEAR RESIDENCE HALL FOR THREE YEARS ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT MY FAITH INTO ACTION. I CHALLENGED MYSELF TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF STUDENT LIFE SO THAT I COULD BE A RESOURCE TO MY STUDENTS FOR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, VOLUNTEERING, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.  WORKING IN RESIDENCE LIFE ALSO ALLOWED OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN POLICY AND ASSESSMENT SKILLS, BOTH AS A MEMBER OF THE        RA ADVISORY BOARD TO THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESIDENCE LIFE AND PROGRAMMING MEMBER TO THE VICTOR MCCORMICK DIVERSITY COMMITTEE.