1

Megan Tomjack-Reynolds

Final ALE Reflection

Within the Discipline
In all that I would like to accomplish, I will always have to deal with the
general public. I have several ideas for my future, including being a licensed
riding instructor, which Im currently in the process of, owning and managing
a feed store, and perhaps even working in an area that involves horticulture. I
will never be without people. I will always cater to or serve those who are
around me and being in the Residential Leader position has given me more
experience than any class or job to help me with reaching these goals. The
Residential Leader experience has taught me to be confident in what I
believe, which has helped me grow as an individual and let me be more of
who I am, how to stand my ground and not falter, think twice, or let my
opinion be swayed, how to handle pressure and stress to extreme extents
and still maintain a relaxed composure and state of mind, and most
importantly, how to handle and manage people.

Beyond the Discipline

Whether Im at Tarleton as a Residential Leader or out in Huntsville, TX
teaching and guiding children as a camp counselor, I am always in a position
of leadership, and even though there may be an age gap between college
students and junior high students, sometimes the maturity level isnt that far
off from one to the other. When Im not spending my time at Tarleton as a
Residential Leader, I am at a childrens camp, and much like RL&L, camp
counselor training is very similar. It takes one to two weeks prior to the arrival
of children coming in and is very in depth on how to handle conflict, whether
that be conflict between to persons, tantrums, sadness/depression, and how
to define yourself as their mentor before being their friend. The Residential
Leader experience has given me an advantage as Ill have already received a
considerable amount of the training and preparation needed in jobs with the
public.

Beyond Academics
I expect to encounter scenarios that will be either difficult for me or those
who are around me to handle or respond to and am confident that the
Residential Leader experience and Crisis Management has given me enough
experience and capability to react appropriately. Scenarios like angry adults
acting rashly purely on emotion and how to hand the situation calmly, or a
situation in which somebody is highly intoxicated and how to handle or act
around them. Residential Living and Learning has also helped me with more
mundane day-to-day actions that I may not have been as skilled in if I were to
not have any experience prior, like being a mediator when possibly two coworkers constantly disagree but dont feel the need to take it up to their boss,

Megan Tomjack-Reynolds
or how to act professionally when in an office and complete simple office
tasks.

Interconnectedness

The Residential Leader experience has taught me a great deal on

interconnectedness and interdependence. In my discipline as a Residential
Leader, Ive learned how my residents and staff have become unified and
how we maintain a state of equilibrium. If one is having a hard time and
dealing with a serious matter, it is apparent that we are all a step off and are
worried, and vice versa with an opposite situation where we are all brought
joy. This also is the same for outside of the Residential Leader life. Anything
occurring with family, friends, or worldly issues also applies.

Global Awareness
My first year as a resident, I didnt have a good connection with any of my
Residential Leaders as I was constantly switching residence halls and rooms. I
had this idea that all Residential Leaders were either too strict to actually get
to know as a person or too careless in their position that they just didnt care
about their residents or their building. I particularly didnt like Residential
Leaders until I was pushed to apply for the position and learned what it stood
for and what other Residential Leaders were like. I was mostly concerned that
I would be too much of a people pleaser, and would let my residents push me
around take advantage of me in situations because I would be more their
friend than their leader. Throughout the Residential Leader experience, I have
learned more about myself in that I have grown into my strengths. I am still
very much of a people pleaser, but I have had no issues with being pushed
around or taken advantage of because I never knew how much respect I
would receive from my residents and how much love I would give back.

Broader Implications
My Residential Leader experience has taught me an incredible amount on
social, political, economic and environmental issues. A handful of my
residents are heavily involved in politics and the military and they are always
informing me of whats going on. Ive learned more about poverty, racism,
global warming, ect. in my one year with my residents than I have had in my
20 years with the news on every day. Ive watched my residents struggle with
discrimination against their skin color or religion, Ive seen a resident leave
the Tarleton family because of a family issue that left her family with red in
their account, Ive seen my hallway debate on whether or not we ever landed

Megan Tomjack-Reynolds
on the mood or whether or not global warming was a myth and even watch
Barack Obamas inauguration speech, and his journey as leaving the
presidency and discuss who theyre interested in for the coming years. My
Residential Leader has helped me open my eyes to whats going on around
me and help me become more open minded on everything my residents have
dealt with personally and how they feel about whats going on around them.