Residence life welcomed new graduate assistant, Teresa Bickley, to their staff this past summer.
Cabrini students can find Bickley immediately upon entering West Residence Hall in her office located on the first floor.
Bickley is a graduate student studying Pre K-4 Education, with the hopes of becoming a college professor someday.
Becoming a graduate assistant was not always on Bickley’s mind. In fact, she was not looking for anything at all when she first saw the job opening.
“I kind of stumbled upon the job,” Bickley said. “I wasn’t really looking for anything and when I found this, I realized it would be perfect for the kind of work I want to do someday.”
Bickley applied for the job and after being hired with Residence Life, began her journey here at Cabrini in August 2015.
So what are the tasks and responsibilities that come along with being a graduate assistant in Residence Life?
Bickley is in charge of the seven resident assistants on the West side of campus. She supervises them, as well as all of the upperclass- men resident students on the West side of campus.
Some of Bickley’s daily tasks include holding conduct meetings, working on community building and educating the students on important topics.
“Doing daily rounds is another part of the job,” Bickley said. “For example, I am on duty on Monday nights. This means I am the person people call if there is an incident or any issues that need to be addressed.”
Bickley has found her new job very rewarding thus far.
“My favorite part of the job is when students come to me with a question or problem and then they think their life is over,” Bickley said. “Then, after we talk and they think it through, they sort of have
this ‘Ah-ha!’ moment and I think it’s very rewarding for both of us.” Bickley graduated from Boyertown Senior High School and attended Shippensburg University as an undergraduate, studying sociology and criminal justice.
After college, before she came to Cabrini, Bickley was a preschool teacher.
“It’s been a bit challenging transitioning from working with preschoolers to working with college students,” Bickley said. “However, I am starting to see how working with both groups can be kind of similar.”
Resident Assistances here on campus have nothing but positive things to say about their experiences working with Bickley so far.
Brittney Pedrazzi is a senior biology major and a resident assistant on the West side of campus.
Pedrazzi feels Bickley has been able to connect with the students on both professional and personal levels.
“I love working with her,” Pedrazzi said. “She is very understanding and always finds a way to be professional, while connecting with us as students.”
Pedrazzi feels completely comfortable going to Bickley with anything, and knows she will always support her.
“She is our age and takes classes so she is able to get on a personal level and understand how stressful managing Residence Life and school can be,” Pedrazzi said. “Teresa is definitely someone I feel I can come to with anything and I know she will have my back and give me the support I need.”
As the fall semester is coming to a close, it looks like Bickley has found her place here in Cabrini’s Residence Life.
