FROM RA TO WORLD TRAVELING ARTIST

By Mary Kay Scheid,
Free Lance Writer & Teacher

Former R.A. Rick Price knew he wanted to be an R.A. from the first day of college. As you know, the transition from home to school is made easier by the R.A. An R.A. takes responsibility for helping to make friends of strangers, for creating community from confusion. As a person who "enjoys helping people," Rick knew he was destined to work in residence life.

Rick lived in the halls four out of five of his years as an undergrad; he lived there again in grad school. Although he admits, "the free room and board was very nice," he adds that he also enjoyed planning programs. When asked to identify the best part of the job, Rick says, "I loved the community life." Community can be a mixed blessing. In a residence hall, students and staff share walls and bathrooms-undoubtedly a challenge. But on the flip side, they also share experiences. Rick provided exceptionally meaningful experiences through his creative programming. But Rick was also keenly aware that any situation could be enlightening: "Helping people out was a daily exercise; I wanted to make them feel really comfortable in their hall." Rick touched many lives; he simultaneously nurtured and challenged people to inspire them to grow.

Through experiences, both positive and negative, we gather memories. With those memories, we can walk more confidently into our future. I would guess Rick's students are better people for having known him. I am certain that few individuals have walked as confidently into the future as Rick.

Since graduating from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California, Rick attended graduate school in Georgia. He earned his masters in two years. Because Rick was so busy cultivating experiences in America, he never had the opportunity to study abroad. Knowing how much one grows from experience, Rick decided to find the means to travel through Europe. The means came from an uncle in San Francisco: "About a month before graduation, my uncle offered me a place to live. I guess I turned out to be a good enough roommate that he and his partner did not mind me being there rent free." Rick suffered through three months of yard work (remember, all experiences have purpose) before landing a job painting murals. His supervisor supported Rick's dream and soon he had enough money to travel through Europe—alone—for two and a half months.

Painting murals is an "off and on thing." With his growing portfolio, Rick eventually was introduced to the management of a furniture gallery specializing in quality custom furniture. Together with the manager, Rick concluded, "something Tuscany would be nice." His first painting sold before they put it up on the wall.

Artists must constantly feed their creative minds and souls with new experiences. And so another foreign land called. "Most recently" Rick explains, "I have traveled through the Middle East."

Being in and out of the country has not slowed his career: "I have acquired enough experience to get into the most prestigious mural company in town." Through this company, Evans and Brown, Rick was commissioned to paint a large mural for the city of Walnut Creek. "It took a couple months to paint, but it won a big award and I have since received many calls about it."

Always wanting to share his wisdom, Rick spends his summer teaching art at a children's camp in Connecticut. Started by a man, who escaped from Nazi Germany, the camp allows Rick to "virtually forget the rest of the world." With the organizational skills, the sensitivity, and the confidence Rick gained through his R.A. experience, it is a virtual certainty that the rest of the world will not forget him.

About the Author

Mary Kay Scheid is a freelance writer and teacher living in Ontario, California with her young son Michael. In her previous life, Mary Kay was a Graduate Resident Coordinator at LaSalle University in Philadelphia and was later a full time Resident Director at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. Mary Kay expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to catch up with one of her former RA's and wishes all those former RA's the fulfillment that Rick has enjoyed.