CTY Great Expectations

My CTY RA staff

I always expect great things.

I just came back from working as an RA for JHU's Center For Talented Youth at Princeton University. I went into these three weeks expecting to meet great people, to experience a new environment, and to be stretched beyond my comfort zone. What I got was so much more.

The people--

With CTY's commitment to diversity, I expected to meet people from different cultures, backgrounds, and worldviews. I fell in love with the staff and the students, each teaching me something new and refreshing about life. Whether it was about hard work ethic by applying to medical schools or about using natural and organic products to honor your environment and body or about being silly and goofy and being comfortable in your own skin, each conversation and interaction expanded my bubble while solidifying my own values.

I expected to be challenged by the differences of people. What I realized was that we are all unified by the need for love and affirmation. Thankfully, I didn't have to do this on my own.

The Environment--

I expected Princeton to be you know, Ivy League-eqsue. I had images of people wearing sweater vests, smoking pipes, and discussing classic literature. Instead, I was surrounded by kids playing silent football, carrying around spoons in their mouths, and cross-dressing. The buildings were beautiful, the town was cute, and the scenery was breathtaking. The lack of AC with the 108 degree heat, the monotonous meals, and the fluctuating weather forced us to focus on the important things, like building relationships and bonding through complaining. Apart from the physical environment, I expected to learn from the social environment. As an RA, my goal was to build community among the residents, making Princeton a home away from home. I envisioned this community physically to look like a hall with a community bathroom (not stuck in the basement), rooms that could prop open doors, and furniture like couches where people could sit and chat. Without all of these, I realized that community is more than just the physical environment, but a social one too. As long as the people are comfortable with other people and free to make their own decisions and stay true to themselves, that is when the environment thrives. Even when 140 people are stuck inside on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

The Zone--

With my RA, counseling, and camp experience, I expected to draw from my memories and recreate them. Instead, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and challenged to make this a new and unique experience. I learned the value of taking risks and putting myself out there, in order to really make my gifts come alive. I expected to do great things, but I realize that staying faithful in the small things has just as much impact. From organizing a talent show to teaching a girl how to do laundry to just smiling, I learned that beauty comes from truth and such actions can show someone a taste of what is good and beautiful and what is true. I learned that going out of my comfort zone while staying true to myself is the cross section of personal growth and aspiration.

CTY, thanks for a great three weeks, for blowing my mind, and giving me lifelong memories. I know there will be much more to come.