Staff Haikus
A Haiku is a Japanese poetic form. This is how you do it:
1st line: 5 syllables
2nd line: 7 syllables
3rd line: 5 syllables.
Example:
Haikus can be fun.
But they don’t always make sense.
Refrigerator.
Write a haiku about the needs of first year students. Then write an explanation of what it means to you and what inspired it.
Then respond to 2 other people’s haikus. (more than just "I like it.")
Be creative, but don’t worry about rhyming…it doesn’t have to….it’s just cool if you can.
17 comments:
Where is the water?
Um, in the water fountain.
That's why you're in charge.
This haiku is about the struggles of first years being able to locate and figure things out on their own. Sometimes we assume that they will just learn the ways of this university and building right away on their own, but some of them take a lot longer....or never learn..
This poem is in dedication to a resident who asked me if they could fill up their water bottle in the janitor's closet. I said I guess they could but I wouldn't and I don't know why they would want to do that. Then they said, "I just want some water!" and I asked why they couldn't use the drinking fountain, and they said, "...that's why you're the RA."
How will this work out?
I don't know what I'm doing...
This is confusing!
This haiku is about the uncertainty, confusion, frustrations, and worries of a lot of residents who are overwhelmed by classes. Many of them are trying to figure out a system and routine that works for them and some just haven't found it yet. During the beginning of the year this can be especially tricky and I want to be there to help the residents through this tricky academic stage of their freshman year.
I am not your mom
You can do your own laundry
It will be ok
This haiku resembles the struggles of first year students transitioning to living on their own. Many first years are in sense "spoiled" because they are used to being catered to at home and when they get to college it is almost as someone has thrown a bucket of cold water on them.
My haiku is dedicated to a resident who refuses to do his own laundry and wants to hire a lady to do it for him. Looking deeper though, his seriousness in avoiding learning a basic life skill could be rooted in a fear of being independent or on his own. College is a hard transition for many residents and as RA's it is our responsibility to encourage and support first years in this transition.
Adamme: haha. Freshman are so funny. I agree that sometimes first year students expect to be told the best way to do things, and when they realize that there is no one there to hold their hand they can get frustrated.
Amanda: "Which one is Heritage Hall and which one is harvey hall?" Many first year student worry constantly about their classes and it is easy for them to get overwhelmed. It is good that we have an arc like you to point them in the right direction!
Up until 2
Oops I slept through class til' noon
Look at that hottie.
My haiku is about the many changes that first year students go through. pressure keeps many up late, which makes many late in the morning. And there is a lot of new people to admire and meet. Romance and sleep deprivation. College at its finest.
Adamme- Love it. Real situation with a great point. the obvious isn't so obvious if you haven't experienced it before.
Lauren- New experiences and life skills are part of coming into the college life. its time to be a big kid and become an adult to contribute to society.
I lost my room keys.
The side door is going off.
I got a package!
This haiku reflects those in a first year building because these are areas we frequently deal with on a daily basis. Residents don't really understand the full responsibilty of having a set of keys and taking ownership to make sure they don't lose them. Within the first few weeks residents don't normally know when the side doors lock, nor do they fully understand what happens if they push the big red warning sign before opeming the door. Then they usually scramble off without saying anything to someone because they're scared of getting into trouble. Lastly, it's always funny to see first year residents get packages at the front desk because it means so much for them to get something and they feel extra special. I feel they appreciate the smaller things, more than returning residents/students.
I dedicate this haiku to all those first year residents trying to figure out their new surroundings.
Lauren: I always find it interesting to interact with those resident's who essentially have everything handed to them while growing up. It's great to see the development of students grow into adulthood and start being independent.
Amanda: It's a continuous cycle that happens with every new student. The idea of not knowing how to do something, or the new surroundings may be a bit intimidating at some points. It's good to point out that we have all been there, and that's why it's super important to help guide others with the experiences we have gone through.
Justin: I made a Haiku for you.
Is it 4 or 5
Syllables are hard to count
Poems can be tricky.
Sounds like you have some guys that are looking for girls who are here to get an M.R.S. degree. That can be difficult to balance.
Amanda: The routine can be difficult to construct. Especially for students that didn't do anything in High School and managed to get straight A's. This is a little different...unless you're in HTRM.
How do I do this?
Do you know where the (blank) is?
Is this allowed here?
This haiku is about a major thing I have noticed that first year students need from me in the first few weeks.
I have had many first year students stop by my room or the front desk to ask me many questions about where things are, how systems work, what is allowed and what isn't, as well as if I know anything about their teachers or certain art projects.
Adamme: Very funny. I'm glad that this happened and that you are an RA. 18 year olds would be lost without RAs telling them where to fill up water.
Amanda: this seems very true! It applies to so many situations just like freshman have questions about many many different situations.
Base is pumping loud
Roommate conflicts and room swaps
Honeymoon ending
This haiku addresses the changes our building is currently undergoing. As reality sets in for our residents and they start to get into the swing of college, the socializing (represented by the base pumping) will start to change from what we saw it in the first few weeks. Roommate conflicts and conflicts between floormates will start to take it's place...which results in switches and mediation. This is the typical end of the Honeymoon Stage of the W-Curve. If you're curious as to what the rest of the W-Curve is, take a look on the UH Drive!
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts. From reading everyone's posts I want to highlight two things (I know a little different than what we were asked to do):
First, it's easy for us to become frustrated with all the questions our residents ask us because we know all these things. However, our students do not and yes, that includes that the floor has a drinking fountain. Hard to believe but sometimes we take for granted the information we know. Please try to keep that in mind as you interact with residents.
Second, as Lauren pointed out our residents are struggling with their independence. Some of them love it and others hate it. It's important to know that whatever their feelings on it, some will manage it fine with little to no issues and others will struggle. It's important to be on the look out and make approperiate referrals to other offices when you come across them.
Great job with these posts...I can't wait to see what Laura, Matt and Mike's revised haiku.
And a special thanks to Adamme & Mia for all their hard work with the development plan!
KELLY
Hey man, how you do?
Good man, I have a question.
Can I have a fog machine?
This haiku is about how I like to start conversations with residents and they seem they want to have a conversation too but they almost immediately ask their question(s) right away. And the questions are sometimes ridiculous.
Mia - I just realized that ours are pretty similar. You must also encounter the "hey-how's-it-going-real-quick-question-ok-bye" thing.
Justin - Yours is easy to relate to. Time management can be a real problem for some incoming freshman. Also hotties are real problems too.
Oops, I forgot to add my comments...
Adamme: That's a really funny story. What are the lengths someone will go just to get some water? :) It's tricky to figure things out on your own sometimes, especially when you're living in a new space with new surroundings.
Lauren: I really like your haiku. It's nice to be completely independent and on your own but sometimes we miss some direction and guidance. Finding that balance is a hard thing to adjust to sometimes.
Yo Bro, you goin out?
Sir, Im your RA so no.
Man crappy job huh?
Yes this is the conversation i have with probably at least 8-10 residents every thrusday/friday night. Apparently they dont get the fact that i cant and wont drink with them. Then they say how my life must very boring beecause it doesnt involve drinking. Its ammusing but i think they do it now for jokes. I explain everytime they ask me that we arent 21 yet and then they explain they drink "water" "nothing illeagal mike, we'd never do that"
Freshman are so open with their habits until reality sets in when they need to be studying in a few weeks. Some of them are past the honey moon stage of doing all this non sense but some, reality will come fast.
amanda- i like yours because thats kind of how my residents are. A lot of questions and uncertainty. Questions about gpa and grading and tutoring. So much is going through everyones head and its so awesome that we're here to support.
Justin- Love your haiku man. such a crazy lifestyle change for everyone. Even me, every year its a very big difference even though ive already been here. The sleepless nights the missed classes and all the beautiful people. Craziness!
stay true to yourself,
don't fall into bad habits,
home away from home
I feel a lot of freshmen tend to lose a sense of who they are, and rather get caught up in the idea of what "college" is supposed to be. I've seen girls make friends with the wrong people, and make poor choices which affect their grades, and also themselves as a person.
Staying true to your beliefs and morals is one of the most important things about being at college, because you should use this time to kind of mold yourself into the person you want to be / are meant to be (:
Lastly, for now, Stout is everyone's home away from home, and they should try to be involved and get comfortable here, so they won't miss home just as much.
Lauren - It's funny that that should be your haiku, purely because when I was in the laundry room last night, 3 of my residents were freaking out because they've never done their own laundry before, and I'm not going to lie, I was like, "wow.." because I've been doing my own laundry since I was 7.. it's just weird to think of different people are, and how many more responsibilities some people have more than others.
Justin - Your haiku made me chuckle, due to the randomness of it all, and I feel it suits the title of being about freshmen. So many are so distracted or caught up in social things, and are scatter brained just because they're trying to make the most of their time here - which is good! However, waking up late for class is not.. this is something I do almost daily.. ha (:
THANK YOU for sharing
Residents keep us busy
A GREAT year ahead!
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