Travis & Sara's Quest for ACUHO-I Internships

 SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people who are considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. more information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

Today's post features Travis Gibler and Sara Holtzman. Sara and Travis are students in the SIU Higher Education program and graduate assistants with Residence Life.  Each is applying and interviewing for ACUHO-I internships this summer. Here's their story about the quest for new experiences!
 

"It's a me, MARIO," we all know what it is like to go on a quest. For some, like Mario and Luigi, the quest is based on revenge and love. For others, it is about the gold. And for some, the experiences we gather make the biggest difference. As two Residence Life grads at SIU, searching for summer internship opportunities, we feel that all three motivations are fitting.

Our ultimate goal is indeed to get to the castle, take down Bowser, and secure our lovely Peach. But, in getting there, we encounter plenty of choices and experiences, which prepare us to pass through the castle doors. If you haven’t already made the connection, the end goal includes graduation and securing full-time positions. Along the way, there appear to be a million green tubes, which lead to countless possibilities. Each green tube we enter leads to a new adventure, and as Mario and Luigi, we are two very curious explorers.

The ACUHO-I internship search has indeed been quite the adventure. Just as we stepped on top of the green pipe that led us to SIU, we have jumped onto another tube to begin our descent into another unknown experience. This time, the tube leads to an upcoming summer quest in a new and exciting location. This level will challenge our ability to reflect on what we have learned in previous realms and what we want and need to get to the castle. In preparation for the upcoming journey, we have sorted through online applications, and talked with various level bosses (aka Residence Life Staff at other institutions) to decide which quest will be the best choice. The ACUHO-I process has indeed been a little scary – with applications, emails, phone interviews, and follow-up conversations. Now, we stand on top of the green tube, which is the summer, and it feels like a great and memorable challenge is before us.

It is within this time of great duress that we have sought out the most valuable power of all; the power of the extra life mushroom. No matter what, the professional staff have given us extra lives through their shared experiences, knowledge, and connections. It is with the incredibly valuable extra lives that we have been able to continue our quest to complete the level successfully.

Right now, our game is paused and we wait for call backs. No matter what the outcome, if we manage to land one of the prestigious ACUHO-I internships, or not, we will have gained new experiences, and we will continue to search for more. Until that point, Mario and Luigi will keep on collecting coins, pouncing on gumbas, and dominating life as two SIU grads.