Students Find their Place in Living Learning Communities, Part 2

Living Learning Communities of Mills Hall graphic
June 18, 2019

Don’t miss Part 1

Although moving to a different location can make students nervous, UNC Asheville helps make the adjustment to college life stress free with the living learning communities on campus.

Living Learning Communities (LLC) are a great way for students to connect with like-minded students right outside their door. Through the LLCs, which are housed in different residential halls on campus, students can get involved in service opportunities, social events and programs hosted by their residential assistant. Not only do students living in LLCs have a built-in group of friends, research shows that students who participate in LLCs tend to do better in class, too. UNC Asheville offers a unique variation of LLC’s to accommodate all students’ interests from exploring the local area and all it has to offer to learning about what keeps your body and mind healthy.

Find out more about just a few of UNC Asheville’s LLCs from the students who live in them in the stories below. For more information about all our LLCs, visit the Housing website.

 

Transfer

Although some LLC’s are focused on a students’ specific interest, the transfer LLC is focused on students deciding to make Asheville their home after leaving another university or community college.

“The wonderful, bright students who make up the LLC came here with something in mind: to start afresh and make UNC Asheville their home away from home. They are all unique personalities, but this common background between them helps to foster a natural sense of community,” said Eric Gohn, RA of the Transfer LLC—affectionately abbreviated as “TLC.”

Gohn transferred to UNC Asheville in 2018. He was aware of other transfer students on campus but, struggled to find someone to confined in that understood what a transfer student takes on.

Gohn enjoys his job as RA of the Transfer LLC so he can connect with other students that may have felt the way he did entering into a new campus and he is able to understand and guide them to the resources and comfort they may need.

“I think people really enjoy the pleasant environment, and that really stems from the respect and compassion that these residents have for one another,” Gohn said.

The TLC goal is to make all of the residents comfortable in their environment and have a positive experience while at UNC Asheville.

“Regardless of where you come from or why you are here, there is a place for you in the TLC. You will be surrounded by interesting people who likely share many of your experiences, and the residents and staff will work tirelessly to help make your transfer experience as positive as it can possibly be,” Gohn said. “In the TLC, we will value your presence and the unique contributions you bring to the greater campus community.”

Octavia Silvers, sociology and religion sophomore is a transfer student from UNC Pembroke. Silvers considers her friends to be family after the strong bond they have built from being in the TLC together.

“I think the people coming into the TLC were thinking about how it’s going to be bland and we wouldn’t communicate or do anything, but we do stuff all the time,” Silvers said.

Silvers suggest that all transfer students consider joining the TLC, especially if you’re worried about making friends.

“I’m pretty happy where it is, we can’t get any closer. We all hang out with each other every night, we do stuff on the weekends together,” Silvers said.

 

Gen 1

Yoselin Rodriguez, sociology sophomore and RA for the Gen 1 LLC, uses her LLC to focus on first generation students that may struggle when adjusting to college.

“Being first gen, a lot of freshmen feel a lot of pressure and feel nervous. By the middle of the first semester they start letting their stresses get to them; but this should help relieve some of that stress,” Rodriguez said.

Some of the LLC’s programs include socials, culture experiences and community service.

 

LEAD

Kayla Taylor, international studies and political science major who graduated in May 2019, served as the RA for the LEAD LLC her senior year.

“This LLC is unique in particular because I believe we are the most connected with the greater Asheville community,” Taylor said. “We learn through action and I really love that, because a lot of learning I’ve done throughout my four years happened outside of UNCA.”

Taylor’s goal through the LLC is to help students understand their abilities and what they’re capable of.

Occasionally the students are required to take a course together. Past courses have focuses on topics such as focusing on foundational knowledge on engagement, service and justice.

Taylor enjoys the work the LLC does together to achieve specific goals.

“They have to be dedicated, self-reliant and be willing to be uncomfortable because people and projects will push them to question their beliefs and actions,” Taylor said.

Taylor said she hopes her residents gain the ability engage in capacity building, skill building and use tools to re-imagine surrounding communities.

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