One of the most refreshing parts about being a resident advisor for the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) ILLC is seeing a new group of students join the program each year. We began our semester with a cookout at the WISE House in the Student Neighborhood, where over 50 of the new residents got to meet the members of the WISE House who were in their place two years ago. We shared a meal together, drew with chalk and played games to get to know the new cohort. 

When I asked Maya Krieger ‘24 what it means to her to be a mentor through living in the WISE house, she said, “We are all strong women in STEM majors, and all taking this journey together. We are here to support one another, as I received support when I first was in WISE as a freshman. My way to give back is to maintain those relationships with those in WISE, as well as being a shoulder to lean on to any of the girls who need it.”

This is a perspective that I very much share as a mentor for my WISE residents through being their RA. I hope to help form and foster the community of late night talks, study sessions in the lounge, visits to new places around Dayton and friends. 

WISE outing

To really put this idea of bonding the 2022-23 WISE Cohort into action, the WISE House took the ILLC to navigate Tom’s Corn Maze in October, and, afterward, we all sat around a fire to roast s’mores and hot dogs. This was a really great opportunity to check-in with the students, and I appreciated hearing about the classes in which they were doing well, the clubs they had joined, and the future. 

In December, the three WISE RAs took the cohort to the ice rink in downtown Dayton right before exams began. The most impactful part of this experience for me was seeing the difference in the camaraderie of all of the residents in comparison to the initial cookout back in the beginning of September. One of these residents is Emme Amy ‘26, who said “WISE was great for meeting people in my classes because it introduced me to so many new people right away. Some of my favorite memories were made at the ice skating event, and even though I had to learn to skate on the spot, I was there with all of my friends, which made it even better.” 

WISE had a fantastic first semester, not only through these events but also through just living on the floors together, working out, eating meals with one another and studying together. I am so excited to see how all of the residents continue to grow together as a community of students in STEM in this new semester and for the many new memories that they will make to remember for years to come.