The 3 Things You Learn in Patton Hall (Especially as an RA)

As I am checking out all of my Patton Penthouse Princesses and start to move my things out of my complex for the last time, I think about all of the things that I have experienced within these halls. And while I could give a lengthy description about my experiences here, I will save you Dear Readers the torture and just share the three major lessons that I learned by living and serving in Patton Hall/Bear House that I think many people share in.

1. You Do You!
Patton is known for having fiercely independent residents, so much in fact that it is nearly impossible to get them to come to a program unless they literally walk in to it. This is because there are over 400 different people with different passions and different backgrounds. As a freshman, I remember trying to fit myself in to the building, but I couldn't relate to everyone. As a first year RA, I tried to have a substantial connection with each resident by taking on different personalities.

However, I did not get to bond with my residents or make friends until I was 100% myself. In Patton, as soon as you start to get involved in whatever activities mean the most to you, you will always find someone who shares that. Maybe you don't have a connection with everyone, but you will have friends who will. When I chose to accept my chemistry, my Catholicism, and my desire to love on literally every person who walked in the door, I suddenly was able to find people who shared my passions and I was able to celebrate the successes of everyone around me.

Patton allows for each of its residents to find themselves in a big and scary world. And once they find their passion, each person is able to find someone who supports that. Support builds a community, and while it may not be dorm-wide, you may be surprised by the communities that are created within your building. I never would have expected that a strange lobby would give me such joy.

Because freshmen actually end up with enough declining points to do this sort of thing

2. Love is always there and it always comes back

As I just said, the people you get to know are the ones that bring you up. In my time at Patton Hall, I have discovered that you will always find love somewhere. Sometimes its your best friend, sometimes its your RA, sometimes its a hall mate, but the moments that held the greatest impact were when someone I hardly knew would lift me up when I was down. 

In my RA times, I found out that if you love people with all of your heart, they will return that love ten fold. When I was upset about a boy or a class, my residents last year would take me to random fast food restaurants, force me to watch silly movies, and sat with me in front of my room, just chatting about life. They did this all to make sure they knew I loved them. 

My residents this year always checked up on me, and they were the ones who pointed out when something was wrong, even when I didn't want to admit it. They challenged me to be more and to do more and to keep striving for excellence. These girls gave me the confidence to do so much more than I ever believed.

I could never thank my staff enough for what they have done for me in these past two years. We have faced so many changes and trials, both individually and as a group. Yet no matter what happened, we always had each other's backs. No number of surprise sticky notes on doors could add up to the immense love and support that my staff has given me. When all else fails, an RA always has their staff to rely on. That is a gift that I could never have dreamed up on my own, and God truly blessed me with this strong community.

Some people are missing or changed over the years, but I could not be more blessed by them.

In Patton, what you put in is what you get out of it. There is no person that is not appreciated or important. Because I lived and breathed for the people within this complex, I had the blessing of being loved in return for the person I truly was, am, and will be.

And I know that even as times change someone is always going to be there

3. Accept Change

If there is any consistency within Patton it is the fact that nothing is constant in this building. The RD changes, the staff changes, the students are different, and everything else changes along with them. Many people from freshman year will wonder why you would rather sit in your lobby on a Friday or Saturday night every weekend instead of going out with them, and eventually some of them leave. Sometimes your closest residents have to leave because of a medical or family emergency or they just don't like Belmont anymore. Regardless, the environment is always changing.

And as all of the people within your world are moving around and moving away, life is still moving. You are asked to be a person who is always improving and living and changing as well. In my time in Patton Hall, I have had to face a million changes, and instead of crumbling underneath them, I have been called to adapt and grow from them. No longer am I afraid to go somewhere on my own, nor do I care what everyone else thinks of me. I believe that there will always be someone to turn to. My faith has grown exponentially, and it's all because God has given me the strength to become a better person and find people who can help me get there.

In Patton, your world changes, but there is constant love as well. No matter what is headed your way, you can take on the challenge. You are going to do amazing things, because of what you have been through before.

So here I am, about to take on a new change. After three years of living in my second home of Patton Hall/Bear House, my first real home in Nashville (because my family moved here and I legit moved in right away), and taking on the challenge of caring for the sophomores of Two Oaks. My role has changed, my environment has changed, and I have to take on that change as well. 

However, Patton gave me a gift to remind me of God's constant love and the support that this complex has given me since day one of Belmont. I get to take on another change with my twin Micaela.

We might be cute or something

I am so thankful for these three years in Patton Hall/Bear House. The memories that I have made here, the people I have met, and the successes I have experiences have built me into a better woman than the girl who entered Patton three years ago with no clue what was to come. I always wanted to be an RA, but I did not know how many blessings I would receive by serving in the same hall I grew up in for two years.

So thank you to the RA's, to the RD's, to the Residents, to Solomon the best maintenance man around, and to every person who walked through these halls with me.

Two Oaks here I come!