Interview with the R.C.

Greetings parents, students, and IMSA Enthusiasts! Welcome to the first 
 blog post of 02 C for the Spring Semester. As many of you are aware, I am the new residential counselor in the C wing. From observing students, the culture, and aura of IMSA, I am very impressed with the types and quality of activities students are involved in. 

The purpose of each blog post is to give you updates on some of the cool activities we have participated in or are planning. To get a hold of me, I am available via email: kadatia@imsa.edu or via apartment phone ext. 5257. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

Interview with the R.C. in 02 

1.  What did you do before you came to IMSA? I was completing my graduate program in Counseling at Northern Illinois University. During graduate school, I worked as an athletic academic case manager for student athletes, an assistant conferences coordinator, and a school counselor intern at Lisle Junior High School. 

2.      What are your hobbies? I love exercising, especially anything dancy with upbeat music. I enjoy listening to music, attending concerts, and spending time with friends and family. In addition my guilty pleasures include collecting different types of teas and exercise dvds.

3.      What is your experience working with teenagers? I’ve worked various jobs with adolescents. During my undergraduate career, I worked as a writing tutor for college freshmen. When I served as an assistant conferences coordinator, many of the events involved working with high school students, including drum corps, marching bands, and cheer camps.  Finally, my previous position as a school counselor intern provided me opportunities to talk with pre-adolescents on a variety of topics from academic, social, and emotional/behavioral issues. 

4.      How did you find out about IMSA? I discovered IMSA was hiring through my daily job searches. Securing a job right out of school is very tough in this economy, and I was fortunate enough apply and receive an offer. I knew about IMSA even before applying because my younger sister was a 2009 alumni.

5.      What are you most looking forward to doing with the wing? Since I am a new R.C., my first priority is getting to know each girl individually by promoting various activities, and fostering positive relationships with the girls. I think rapport building when you are coming in the middle of the year is difficult, but earning trust of students is important and helps promote a supportive relationship

6.      What is your favorite thing about IMSA so far? My favorite aspect of IMSA so far is the learning environment and community the school fosters. I am a strong believer in active learning, and the way classes are set up really encourages hands on learning, something that is not common in a lot of high schools in the state. In addition, the people (students, faculty and staff) at the academy have been extremely supportive with my adjustment to IMSA

7.      What is your favorite quote? I have many favorite quotes that it is hard to choose just one, however one quote I try to live by is Paulo Coelho:

      "We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but its another to think that yours is the only path."