I’ve loved reading comics (either in book form or in the Sunday paper) since I was just starting to read on my own. The stories varied from intergalactic space battles involving both sides of “the Force”, to teams of superheroes fighting supervillains, or just tussles with a madman in Gotham. But they all had an overarching theme: superheroes, either with their abilities thrust upon them or sought after, they were working with their brains and brawn to make their little corner of the galaxy, planet, or neighborhood better than it was before they got there. 

Sometimes frustratingly, I’d see that the hero removed the threat or villain from an area temporarily, but this didn’t help the humans in the long run, because what if the threat came back? The Caped Crusader and the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes aren’t going to be around forever, nor could they be in all places at all times. The humans needed to learn that they had the ability to rid themselves of most threats on their own, they just needed to know how to do it. Having heroes around is essential to learning how to handle threats that require extra help, but the real advantage would be for the humans to figure out how to handle the threats themselves, or even to avoid them in the first place.

Residential life faculty are like superheroes in their own unsuspecting ways. The advantages of a residential life program within the greater boarding school program center around the full-time learning and growth environment that is provided. Academic classes may end with the school day, but the opportunities for students don’t stop there. Afternoons, evenings, weekends, and even mornings are all times for students and residential life faculty to identify threats or challenges, to engage in meaningful ways which foster growth and independence, and to build strong relationships.

Residential life faculty are there to facilitate learning that is separate yet supportive of academic learning. The close relationships between students and residential life allow countless opportunities to help students unlock their potential. Student potential being equally important in their academic success AND their personal success. 

Navigating things like friendships and responsibilities, with an additional focus on time management and organizational skills, all the while having fun and becoming more confident in themselves, the residential life faculty help to complete a students well-rounded boarding school experience.

I’ve been working in Residential Life going on my eighth year now, and every year I get to see seemingly regular looking human beings doing superhero-like things, just trying to make the little corner of the planet better than when they found it. These regular looking humans have shown students that a label, diagnosis, or challenge, that has seemingly been a yoke for them to carry for as long as they can remember, that when applied in a new way, can become not only an asset but something they can wear proudly on their chest for all to see. And maybe, they too can become a superhero in their own way.