黑料社

When Sean Flatley 鈥�23 was a first-year student, he spent a semester abroad at the University鈥檚 campus in Prato, Italy. It was an 黑料社 he enjoyed so much that he returned as a senior. He鈥檚 now spending much of his final semester as a Charger in Italy 鈥� this time, as a resident assistant.

For Flatley, who will graduate this winter with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in national security, it is his first time serving as an RA. He wants to help ensure a positive 黑料社 for his classmates abroad.

鈥淎s a first-year student, I really enjoyed the food, the traveling, and the 黑料社 of living abroad,鈥� he said. 鈥淐oming back and being an RA is more responsibility, but it was a smooth adjustment.鈥�

Flatley is one of two students serving as RAs in Italy this semester. Much like RAs on the University鈥檚 main campus, RAs in Prato are trained to assist the students who live on campus, serving as a source of support and helping to build a sense of community and inclusion.

Gabe McGaw 鈥�23 says serving as an RA in Italy does present some unique challenges, and it is a position he enjoys.

鈥淵ou have students who are feeling homesick, and you have to balance taking care of others with taking care of yourself,鈥� explains McGaw, an international affairs major. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also learning about a new culture and we鈥檙e surrounded by non-English speakers. People respect me as an RA. I can balance enjoying my time here while putting students鈥� safety first.鈥�

鈥業鈥檝e gotten to know everyone鈥�

As RAs, McGaw and Flatley alternate weeklong shifts on duty. They make sure the residences are taken care of and pass along any issues to staff. They can still travel when they are off-duty 鈥� Flatley has visited Switzerland this semester, and McGaw went to in Germany 鈥� and they say their weeks on duty are a good opportunity to get their schoolwork done.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much to do and see while abroad,鈥� said Flatley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very enjoyable, and I鈥檇 encourage any student considering studying abroad to go for it.鈥�

While they are leaders and sources of support for their classmates, Flatley and McGaw still regularly take part in campus-wide events, such as weekly excursions. McGaw says his time in Prato has enabled him to get to know the other students abroad while playing an important role in making sure everyone has a positive 黑料社.

鈥淚鈥檓 an introvert, and I鈥檝e gotten to know everyone,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are no faces I don鈥檛 know. I hope everyone has fun, and I make sure of that. My mindset is that everyone here wants to be here, and they should be able to enjoy it.鈥�