Resident assistant Michelle Grant has had a passion for people for most of her life. But since the Coronavirus pandemic forced people to practice social distancing, she has been forced to leave campus early, resulting in unexpected goodbyes to those she cared for the most.
The 2019-2020 school year features Grant, a junior, as a second-year resident assistant for the fourth floor of McClain Hall, the upperclassmen girl’s dormitory. The reason she decided to become a resident assistant comes from an experience she had her freshman year.
“My freshman year I came to Olivet without knowing anyone,” Grant recalls. “Because of that I made a very conscious effort to make friends and introduced myself to every girl on my floor just by knocking on each of their doors.” This experience led to her resident assistant suggesting that Grant should pursue the role of a resident assistant herself. “I had made some really cool connections and really wanted to continue that,” says Grant.
Behind the Passion
Grant is no stranger to leadership roles. In fact, she has led a youth group and has accepted an internship at the Bridge Teen Center for the summer. Furthermore, her passion for leadership comes from the immense desire to care for others and engage in recovery and restoration efforts. That desire is what led her to choosing her major and concentration within the communication department.
“Originally I intended on coming to Olivet for a degree in Psychology so I could pursue counseling,” says Grant. But after the major not bringing the excitement that she thought she would feel, a tour at Shine.FM sparked a new and improved excitement for her college career.
“I felt like it was truly what made me excited to learn,” Grant says. “Now I’m feeling more led to do media for a non-profit organization. Something to benefit and serve the community, possibly in human trafficking or with the LGBTQ community,” Grant explains.
Leading with Love
Serving others is something Grant does not take lightly. Her co-resident assistant, Sara Stai, who has been with her both years, describes Grant as being “super loving,” and mentions how Grant has impacted their residents.
“Michelle likes to make the girls on the floor feel special and valued,” Stai says. This includes leaving notes for the girls and checking in won them often.
“She loves people very well and in her own way,” says Stai.
Perseverance
However, the passion Grant put into being a resident assistant was suddenly shaken due to the Coronavirus outbreak, as school was forced to go online for the remainder of the semester and students had to move out of their dorms.
“Having to leave so unexpectedly is way harder than I expected it to be in terms of residential life,” Grant says. “I’m not going to be returning as a resident assistant next year, so for my time to get cut short, it really stinks.”
Now at home, Grant can be found cooking, painting, and feeding her black moor goldfish, Cheeto. But thanks to text messaging, Grant has still been able to show her passion and care for her residents from afar.
“I’ve checked in just to see how things are going and how they’re managing,” says Grant. “I’m definitely grateful to have some form of communication with them even in a small capacity.”
