Reflections on Recommendations by Justin Schuch

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 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.

Justin Schuch is the Coordinator of Residential Leadership and Engagement for our department. Today Justin shares his thoughts about writing letters of recommendation for students.

The spring semester is always an exciting time, as many of the undergraduate and graduate students begin looking towards the summer and fall semesters for leadership positions, jobs, and internships to enhance their experiences. In a profession where our main goal should be assisting students in being successful, there are few moments more rewarding than those when I am able to construct letters of recommendation for those I have had the pleasure to work with. As students begin to apply for positions, scholarships, or advanced study, I have always felt honored to be asked to be a part of these valuable transition periods and know I have had a very real part in assisting future success.

In my experience, the best part of developing a letter of recommendation is reflecting upon the time I have been able to work with someone. Whether a staff member, student leader, or student I have worked with in class, the evolution a student goes through is something we rarely get to look back on and enjoy. One of the most rewarding letters I composed was one I wrote for a student who I originally met via a conduct process. Seeing this individual rise from a mishap, become a leader among their peers, then focus on future endeavors within higher education was a transformation I am frequently thankful I was able to be a part of. With any letter I am able to prepare, I enjoy being able to look back and visualize the progression a person as gone through. As a young professional, I have quickly come to realize letters of recommendation and/or support will be an area of the field and my positions I hold dear and enjoy most.

After working alongside a student or peer in any capacity, developing strong letters of recommendation is something I feel professionals truly “owe” the individuals who have confided this valuable part of their experience with me. As advisors and supervisors, we challenge daily for higher boundaries and firm goals. Whether a student employee, leader, or graduate student, I remain well aware of the amount of energy, dedication, and drive those around me put into their efforts. Knowing I have asked for a great deal from students, staff, and advisees, it seems of the utmost importance for me to dedicate just a fraction of those contributions to letters of recommendation. More importantly, a strong letter of recommendation for a deserving individual can be the ultimate “thank you” from an advisor/supervisor to a student leader or staff member.

More than a simple letter saying “hire/accept this person,” a letter of recommendation is nod to the hard work someone has done, proof of confidence in their ability, and a stamp of approval for the future work they will produce. It is difficult to know how much weight a letter of support can have for an applicant. Often, a strong letter is icing on the cake. Other times, it may set the tone for an applicant’s experience. Whether the contributions a person has made are legendary, or average, I still enjoy being able support however possible via a letter of recommendation.

So, as the spring semester continues, I will look forward to the possibility of writing numerous recommendations. I suppose it is also my hope those I have been able to speak highly of and recommend are able to one day turn around and write similar letters for those they have had the pleasure to work alongside.

Mae Smith Area Council

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 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.


Dennis Hoyle, Hall Director of Mae Smith, coordinated today's blog post. Dennis is the adviser to the Mae Smith Area Council, the programming and representation group for Mae Smith Hall. Members of the executive board for the MSAC contributed their thoughts about being involved with this highly successful organization.

The Mae Smith Area Council is a passionate group of students who are devoted to quality programming in the residence hall. This year for the Mae Smith Area Council, in particular, has been filled with excitement, learning and stories of student success. Below are some of the thoughts of MSAC members about what has made this year special:

"I believe what makes us successful is that we are always doing an event for the building and we are always at the top of our game. The events I am proud of most are our movie nights and making tye-dye t-shirts." -Jamal

"I like getting to make and see all the smiles that people have when they come to one of our events!" - Haylee

 
 

Make a Hand-Turkey Night

"I think that from the very beginning we all became good friends, which helps us get along and communicate easily with one another so we can efficiently plan events." - Anna

Mae Smith residents are thankful for Area Council!

"The only word I can think of to describe our Area Council is FAMILY. We are extremely close and always welcome new members and new friends." -Becky

Bowling Night!

"We all get along pretty well and we learned how to organize and communicate in a positive and effective way. I really enjoyed putting on the Tie-Dye event. I had fun when we put on the game night event and made snow cones also!" - Anna

No problem getting waivers signed for football

"I can't say that I have ever had as much fun being on an executive board than I have since I joined Mae Smith Area Council. I really enjoy the sense of community in Mae Smith and there is such a feeling of fulfillment after a successful event. I believe we are so successful because of the time and energy commitment put in by our executive board and by our advisers, we never leave good enough alone and we constantly strive to bring bigger and better events to our residents." -Adam

 Want to be a part of an Area Council for the 2013-2014 school year? Contact your Hall Director for more information.