Daphne
My name is Daphne Prakash, and I’m currently a fourth-year student double majoring in biological science and chemistry. I’m passionate about scientific research and hope to pursue a Ph.D. that bridges both of these fields in the future. When I’m not in class or working in the lab, I love to spend my free time rock climbing, hiking with friends, and exploring new coffee shops and food places!
Being actively involved in the campus community has always been important to me, but becoming an RA for South Hall wasn’t something I had initially planned. I was really inspired by the RAs from last year, Brian Nguyen and Deanna Shanelle (Asia) – they did a phenomenal job of fostering a safe and welcoming atmosphere in the dorms. Although being an RA isn’t always glamorous, I saw it as an opportunity to make South Hall feel like home for others before I set off on other adventures outside of our La Sierra community.
Nobu
Hey! I’m Nobuyuki Yano, but feel free to call me Nobu. I’m the men’s RA for South Hall this school year and a fourth-year majoring in art with a pre-professional track in dentistry. Some of my favorite hobbies are cooking, doodling, thrifting, watching anime, playing volleyball, scuba diving, and more.
I wanted to become an RA mostly because of our previous RAs, Brian and Asia. They made it look like a lot of fun and turned living in South Hall into an incredible experience. Being an RA felt like the perfect way to give back to this community we’ve all built since our first year here. My goal is to make South Hall feel like a real home—a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of race, background, major, or year. I envision a hall filled with laughter, lively conversations echoing down the corridors, and the comforting smell of spices and cooking filling the dorm.
This year, we have some great activities lined up for South Hall, including a Christmas party, tea time events, karaoke nights, and movie nights. Looking forward to an amazing year together!
The South Hall Experience
Being RAs for South Hall has honestly been such a fun experience—way more than we ever expected. We get to decorate our board, make room tags, and come up with ways to make the space feel welcoming. It’s a chance to be creative, but it’s also about helping South Hall feel like home for everyone. The best part, though, is connecting with the new residents. Since they’re all Honors students, there’s already a level of trust and understanding that makes our job so much easier. We don’t have to worry much about anyone breaking the rules or getting into trouble—they’re responsible, focused people who genuinely value being part of this community. That mutual respect has made our transition into the RA role so much smoother and far less stressful than we imagined.
Meeting the other new RAs this year has been a highlight too, especially since Residential Life required us to move into the dorms three weeks early for training. Although the training itself was long, it gave us plenty of time to bond. CPR and first aid training, in particular, ended up being surprisingly fun and a great way to break the ice. Plus, each dorm hosted late-night dessert get-togethers, which became our way to unwind, share stories, and bond over sweet treats. Those early weeks really helped us form a tight-knit, supportive team, making it so much easier to navigate the challenges of being an RA together.
Being part of South Hall has also brought something fresh to our experience in the Honors Department. We’ve had the chance to connect with underclassmen and hear their thoughts on honors classes, professors, and all the new experiences they’re having. It’s interesting to see their perspectives and what they hope to get out of their Honors education. Their excitement for classes and projects reminds us of when we first joined the program, and it’s been refreshing to share stories and advice with them. This new level of interaction has definitely added something special to our own journey in Honors.
We also have a WhatsApp group chat where we all stay connected, sending silly stickers and random photos of each other throughout the week. We chose WhatsApp because it worked so well for last year’s dorm group—it’s kind of become a tradition. We even check in on the old group chat from last year, keeping in touch with past residents, which helps keep that sense of connection alive. Little things like this keep the vibe light and fun, making South Hall feel more like a family than just a place to stay.
Moments like these—whether it’s sharing ramen, belting out karaoke songs, or just goofing off in the chat—have quickly become some of our favorite parts of the week. The middle common room, lovingly called the “Mess Around Room,” is where most of these moments happen. Even though we try to study there, it always turns into a space for chatting and having fun. It’s what transforms South Hall from just another dorm into a close-knit community where we’re genuinely there for each other. Here’s to the rest of the year and the memories we’ll continue to make together!
—Daphne Prakash, Class of 2026: Biological Science and Chemistry & Nobuyuki Yano, Class of 2025: Art/Pre-dentistry