2. Ellen Giordano
42 Berkeley Terrace
Milford, CT 06460
203-407-9607
February 10, 2014
Eastern Connecticut State University
Housing Department
83 Windham Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to be rehired as a Resident Assistant for the 2014-2015 academic year. The reason I would
like this opportunity is because I have started to develop a valuable set of skills that I want to continue to hone
and perfect as I move forward into figuring out my future career goals. From my experience as a Student
Orientation Counselor, I began with the ability to be enthusiastic, relatable, resourceful, and helpful. I
successfully transferred these abilities to the RA position, but I found that, in this new role, I also needed to
develop more on top of that. Ultimately, training and first-hand experiences provided me with these necessary
skills to be an effective educator, community builder, and policy enforcer in the residence hall. If rehired, my
goal is to improve my programming skills because for my first semester,I chose “safer” topics. I would like to
step out of my comfort zone and delve into more meaningful and exigent subject matter.
One of my strengths as an RA includes being creative. I have come up with attention-grabbing, cleverly-
titled bulletin boards that serve a purpose in the community. I also try to create unique door decorations that
have a lot of detail and often connect to either my bulletin board or the theme of a certain month. As a result, I
received the “Bulletin Board of the Month” award for the month of December,which is one of my
accomplishments. Another one of my strengths is being approachable. I am approachable because I leave my
door open at least an hour a day, five days a week to make myself a visible part of the community even though
Noble is an upperclassmen hall. Because of this, I have formed close relationships with a few of my residents
and completed my one-on-ones on time for the fall semester. Moreover,I’m not afraid to knock on resident’s
doors, invite them to events, and strike up a random conversation. If rehired, I will continue to do so.
One of the strongest skills that I have mastered as an RA is managing my time effectively. It was a big
change to go from having no job at all during the semester to having a job, in which you never clock out. Thus,
during spring training I successfully completed all of my door decorations for the semester and came up with
bulletin boards and some program ideas for the upcoming months. With this skill, I could focus on other
important aspects of the RA job throughout the year, such as community development activities and RA/
resident one-on-ones while still maintaining my GPA. Therefore,I consider it an accomplishment that I have
been able to complete all of the requirements and tasks in a timely manner. Another skill I have gained is
confidence; at first I wasn’t sure of myself and it was daunting to approach certain situations, but I’m getting
more and more used to dealing with different kinds of incidents and people. If rehired, I would like to continue
working in a residence hall with primarily sophomores, especially those in Noble Hall, who often feelleft out at
the bottom of the hill because they are not on main campus. I want residents to feelas though they are both a
part of Noble’s community and Eastern’s community.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ellen Giordano
3. Ellen V. Giordano
giordanoel@my.easternct.edu, 203-407-9607
42 Berkeley Terr, Milford, CT 06460
English major and writing minor at Eastern Connecticut State University with experience in public relations,
educational programming, and community building.
Summary of Qualifications:
Strong leadership skills include the ability to excite and motivate others.
Readily learns new skills and applies them to all areas of professional and personal life.
Creativity with ability to clearly communicate ideas; effective writing and editing skills.
Good sense of who the audience is and most appropriate form of communication.
Planning and carrying out projects, taking the initiative to exceed expectations.
Ability to problem solve and to think both independently and collaboratively.
Education:
English major, writing minor, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, 2015
GPA: 3.87
Internship: Teaching Assistantship in College English, Spring 2014
Activities: Eastern Repertory Dance Troupe member,public relations, choreographer, September 2011
– present
Professional Experience:
Resident Assistant Fall 2013, Spring 2014
Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT
Builds community through residence hall social programming and spontaneous community
development activities in residence hall or at campus events.
Educates residents on important issues that college students face through educational and adopted
programming.
Enforces university policy, showing ability to follow procedure, document any concerns or incidents,
and check in on residents to create a positive and supportive environment.
Serves as a resource and refers students to professional staff, who can better assist their needs,
demonstrating ability to interact with people of all backgrounds.
Student Orientation Counselor Summer 2013, Spring 2014
Prepared freshmen and transfer students for Eastern Connecticut State University’s unique campus
through touring and web access presentations,teaching how to navigate the online resources.
Connected new students to other new students and the community through conversation and group
discussion facilitation.
Daycare Assistant and Babysitter 2007-2010
Watched over five children between the ages of 1 – 8 with private daycare.
Played fun and educational games with toddlers.
Dance Teacher Summer 2009
Mom’s Club, Milford, CT
Taught ballet and creative expressions to eight preschoolers.
Volunteer Activities:
After-School Homework Club and Project Academic Advancement tutor for elementary and middle school
students, 2008-2013
Vacation Bible School music leader and counselor for elementary aged students, July 2011, July 2012
Saint Ann’s Parish Social Outreach Ministry:
Healthcare and nursing home sing-a-long visits, 2007-present
Veterans Association Hospital office assistant and patient escort,summer 2009, Summer 2010
4. Educational: I Love Boobies
For the month of October, I decided to go with the triple threat of making door decorations, making
a bulletin board, and putting together a program that related to the theme of Breast Cancer Awareness.
Although it may seem clichéd or unoriginal, this theme was important for me and the community
because one of my residents, who I developed a close relationship with, has a mom who was fighting
the battle against breast cancer. Moreover, my friend’s mom and backstage manager at my dance
studio passed away from breast cancer after beating it two or three times, so I wanted to be informative
and empowering at the same time, spreading awareness and creating a strong support system within the
hall. In this sense, it was successful and met the needs of the community.
The program accomplished bringing residents together and informing them of the statistics and
ways they could be informers themselves. Both males and females showed up, wearing pink as I
requested on the flyers. Once the program was over, I put the pictures of the residents who attended the
program wearing pink on the bulletin board to show pride and strength. The residents were enthusiastic
about it, which demonstrated that residents understood how important it is regardless of age or gender
or the number of residents in Noble who are affected by it.
I assessed my program through verbal assessment in that I asked the residents the questions I had
written out ahead of time. Each resident shared at least one way to raise awareness (besides wear pink),
one risk factor for breast cancer, and one statistic. Also, like I said earlier, all the residents wanted to
have their picture on my awareness bulletin board, so it showed that my objectives were met. From the
assessments, I learned that I can learn just as much from the residents as they can learn from me. I was
really touched by some of the stories told and learned things about breast cancer that my research
hadn’t told me.
6. Inclusion: Food With a Twist
This program came about because I remembered my RA from freshmen year doing something
similar, so I thought that I could try it out on upperclassmen. It met the needs of the community in that
in Noble Hall, there are a lot of entrances and stairwells, so people take advantage of them without
thinking about how easy and quick it is to get to their rooms regardless of what side of the building
they are on; on the other hand, there is only one elevator. Therefore, this program showed the
limitations that people with handicaps and disabilities face, how important it is to be aware of how it
feels in order to be more conscientious of one’s surroundings, and the things that people go through
that may be overlooked.
This program accomplished sparking up a discussion about the different struggles that people
face on a daily basis and how it feels to experience it. Thus, residents were able to determine their own
privileges that they have and understand the disadvantages that some students face. Those who
attended were impacted in the sense that they found it difficult to get pizza from even a few yards
away. They realized that they never stopped to think about the little things that they take advantage of.
I assessed my residents with the verbal questions I typed up ahead of time. Residents were able
to correctly name one disability that students face, two privileges that they have, and one emotion that
they felt. At times it was difficult to have residents take it seriously because they thought it was funny
to watch their peers bump into things, but I learned that promising not to give out priority points makes
people pay attention and overall it was successful. I think in the future I could improve a program like
this by including other kinds of disabilities besides just physical ones.
8. Community Service Program: The Tommy Fund Walk for Childhood Cancer
This program came about because I found out that my former SOC co-worker, Emily Cameron,
was running it for the CCE, so I thought it would be fun to join her and support her. It was a walk that
she had done with her family every year and it meant a lot to her, so I thought it would rub off on my
residents. It met the needs of the community in that it gave residents a meaningful, productive activity
to do on the weekend because it took up seven hours of the day. In Noble Hall, there are a lot of times
when residents don’t want to walk all the way up the hill to go to a CAB or FAD event at night.
Therefore, a program like this, where a ride is provided and it is during the day, helps get people out of
their rooms, doing something positive.
We were expecting to volunteer, but it turned out that they already had too many people
working the kid’s craft table and giving directions, so we ended up participating in the walk instead,
which was still a beneficial experience and it accomplished something that money can’t buy. I think
the residents really felt the joy of giving back to the community because they cheered for the children
and cancer survivors who ran in the race. Also, there were lots of smiles and no complaining despite
the rain. Moreover, everyone assisted with clean-up. Prior to the program I raised about $70, so it was
successful in that sense as well because even residents who didn’t attend still found a way to
contribute, whether it was with spare change or a whole jar full of pennies! Since it was an adopted
program and there weren’t any objectives, I assessed it based on how helpful and enthusiastic everyone
was, and I give it three thumbs up.
10. Social Program: Classy Cupcakes
This program came about because I wanted to reunite the residents after break and get the
residents reacquainted with their neighbors or even meet their neighbors for the first time. It met the
needs of the community in that it provided a delicious dessert to kick-off the new semester. It also
brought residents together in a fun and simple way. Additionally, it provided the community with food
other than pizza, which was what all of the programs had the previous week.
What the program accomplished was that it got residents out of their rooms for a little while
and it got them to talk to people they wouldn’t normally talk to. Also, a lot of my residents came, so it
gave me the opportunity to catch up on everything that has happened over break and how everything is
going in their lives. For example, one of my residents told me about her guy problems, and I gave her
advice. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures, but I think that’s proof that I was too busy enjoying my
residents’ company.
Prior to the program, I put conversation starters on the bottom of the cupcakes. Then, when the
residents arrived, they used the conversation starters to talk to other residents. At the end, they were
able to recount two interesting facts about their partners when I asked them. They also ate a cupcake or
two, so my objectives were met. However, I learned to get less food next time because I had way too
many leftovers! Other than the excess amount of cupcakes, the program was successful.
11. “Fall into Happiness,” my bulletin board for the month of November, met the needs of the
community in that it served to provide tips for dealing with seasonal depression as well as remind
upperclassmen of the resources we have on campus. For instance, a couple of the tips included: keep a
“negative thought log,” surround yourself with positive people, do exercise that you love, and use
CAPS because it’s free. This information is relevant because in one-on-one conversations with
residents of the ground floor, they have talked about not liking the lack of natural light in their rooms.
In fact, one resident even e-mailed HD Jasmine asking for a room change because she does not like
how dark it gets. I learned that simple changes in your lifestyle can greatly influence your happiness
during a time when cold weather can be a downer.
I also made door decorations to match!
12. “Post Wisely,” my bulletin board for the month of September/October, met the needs of the
community in that it provided tips on how to properly use and manipulate social media to your
advantage. It served as both a warning and a guide for the residents, who eventually want to get
hired and thus need to develop a strong, positive online persona. This information is relevant
because social media is the number one activity on the web, so it is essential to be cautious and
smart about what you allow the public to see, especially when the public means future employers.
Since this was one of my first bulletin boards, I learned about how to be more spatially aware and
plan the lay-out of the board with consideration to the size. At first I had more interesting facts but
had to scrap them due to the lack of available room. However, to go along with the board, I made
twitter bird door decs and incorporated some of the information into my curriculum program,
“Face to Face,” about interpersonal communication.
13. Thank you for taking the time to evaluate my performance as a Resident Assistant. Make a list,
check it twice, and find out which Resident Assistants were naughty or nice!
December Check-Out Board
January About Me Board
February Self-Love Board
14. Community Development
Community Development Activities:
Despite being in an upperclassman hall, I was able to successfully complete all five CDAs
because I took the initiative and engaged in meaningful conversation with residents. One way that I
was able to be effective in my CDAs was that I stayed late after the RHA meetings were over, which
allowed me to form a relationship with the RHA E-Board members; I helped them clean-up the
leftover mess from the Chinese food and ended up having discussions about current events and other
topics.
Another way I was effective in completing my CDAs was that I chose to invite and bring
residents to the Thursday Knight Café in the Student Center for the free pancake nights. Since most of
my residents and I do not have a meal plan, it becomes difficult to try to use a meal as a CDA, but
pancake nights have worked well for me a few times. In fact, my first one of the spring semester
occurred at the Thursday Knight Café after one of my rooms of girls got out of cheerleading practice.
My second one occurred at the Dean’s Cup Kick-Off. I would continue with this successful model of
CDAs.
RA/ Resident One-on-Ones:
With the exception of one resident, who only had weekend classes and never really moved in, I
completed all of my one-on-ones for the fall semester. I learned a lot about my residents’ majors,
hobbies, and campus involvement. I feel like I became more “real” to the residents after having done
them. For example, after a one-on-one with a resident, this particular resident approached me for help
with a sexual harassment situation, which is one positive example of a time that a resident felt more
comfortable with me afterwards. A one-on-one also helped me develop my bulletin board for
November, “Fall into Happiness,” which I talked about earlier in the portfolio. Additionally, some of
my residents began saying “hi” to me every time they saw me and realized I am more than just their
RA, which can often times be seen as a negative thing to upperclassmen.
One of my challenges was that there were some residents who didn’t spend a lot of time in
Noble. However, I addressed this by knocking on their doors or telling their roommates to let them
know I wanted to talk to them. This was effective because they usually stopped by to chat within the
next few days. Overall, I had a positive experience with one-on-ones. I don’t think I would change how
I conducted them.
17. Adopted: Hair Matters with RA Carl Stensland
Social: Hipster Olympics with RA Dan Clesowich
18. RHA Experience:
Because three of my residents are on the E-Board of RHA, I’ve had a really meaningful
experience with it. Not only did I participate and stay after to chat with the E-Board members and help
them clean up, I also helped relay the drama and miscommunication that was occurring among the
members to HD Jasmine. I gave her the details that the girls were more comfortable telling me, and
then I passed the information along, so the issue could be solved. Furthermore, I volunteered to advise
RHA.
Check out the pictures of the awesome RHA Door Decorating Contest!
WINNER:
Incidents:
I think that I have done a good job handling incidents in that with both of the alcohol/marijuana
incidents I’ve dealt with I kept my calm and cool yet sternness despite the fact that there were
primarily males in the room. I was intimidated in both incidents, but with the second one I used some
humor and small talk to keep the room relaxed while I scanned for policy violations. The next day, I
checked in with the residents to make sure they were okay. This boosted my confidence and
demonstrated that I cared about their well-being.
19. Assessments:
In my RA evaluation with HD Jasmine, I learned that incidents vary on the situation. Even
though I got some questions wrong on the manual assessments, I was still able to effectively handle
future incidents according to protocol. Thus, the written tests did not effectively judge my
performance. I also learned that I need to step out of my comfort zone for my programs as I mentioned
in my cover letter. Some of my programs were too safe, and although they served a purpose, they
didn’t delve into the deeper issues on campus.
However, I learned that I am motivational because I leave notes for each of my staff members
to boost morale. In addition, my bulletin boards are a wonder to look at because I take the time to plan
them out and make them both informative and eye-catching. I also have a high level of engagement
with my residents in that I know all of their names and know at least one fact about the majority of
them. Overall, the assessments tell me that I have some areas to improve in, but the potential is there,
and I’m doing a great job so far.
