Residential Education Programmers
REP Experience
One of the activities I did was REP (Residential Education Programmers) within the University of Washington’s Housing & Food Services. In this role, I helped organize programs designed to build community in the residence halls. I also managed the program’s Instagram account, which included responsibilities like creating graphics, messaging other organizations, promoting events, and learning how to communicate effectively with a large audience. Beyond the creative work, the role was very collaborative and gave me the chance to work with a team to plan events for students.
Throughout the year, we hosted events like Late Night Carnival and other social programs aimed at bringing students together and offering opportunities for them to socialize and learn. These events were rewarding, but they also taught me how to adapt in unpredictable situations, including navigating moments when students didn’t always behave as expected. For example, there was one student who would frequently show up to events and try to take multiple items that were meant to be one per person. At the Late Night Carnival, a bunch of freshmen took their shoes AND socks off against our wishes and proceeded to climb the bouncy slides with bare, sweaty feet. We would have to navigate things like that, which was difficult at times, but would also be pretty funny.
Check out the REP Instagram: @uwrep
Events
To close out the year, I hosted an event that I came up with: a junk journal-making workshop focused on mindfulness and creativity. Students used recycled materials and art supplies to create personalized journals. The turnout was much larger than I expected, and the event was actually a lot of fun for me as a facilitator. I got to walk around, listen to people talk, see people be creative, and play a Her’s album in the background. Watching participants unwind and express themselves reminded me how powerful thoughtfully designed spaces can be for supporting mental health and reflection.
In another quarter, I shifted toward organizing educational programming, including hosting a resume workshop in partnership with UW Career Services (with boba tea as an incentive, of course). Educational events can be difficult to promote, so I was really proud of the strong turnout and the level of engagement from attendees, many of whom asked insightful questions and requested additional resources afterward. Seeing students leave with practical tools and renewed confidence felt like a meaningful personal accomplishment.