My name is Daphne Prakash, and I’m a fifth-year Biological Science and Chemistry major. If I’m not in class, lab, or working at the front desk at Calkins, there’s a 99% chance I’m getting a sweet treat or in line at In-N-Out. Outside of food (LOL), my hobbies include listening to music, rock climbing, and getting competitive over Trivia Crack (play me @daphne_prakash). It’s my third year living in South, and my second year as the girls’ RA, so I guess you could say I’m a pretty big fan of ResLife. Every school year is different, and I’m excited to bond with the residents and watch how the group dynamic unfolds. Some of my most cherished college memories are from my first year at South, and I aspire to carry on the warm and welcoming culture established by the RAs I had back then.
As much as I enjoy hosting events like movie or karaoke (the ABSOLUTE best – we’ve got some performers in the building!) nights, my favorite part of being an RA is the random chats I’ll have with the girls in the hallway and watching them react to their dorm tags every quarter. College is a stressful time for everyone, and sometimes I find that the little moments in between classes and hectic schedules are the ones that make the biggest difference in helping us remember to breathe.
I don’t know if it’s exactly my favorite, but during my first year as a resident in South, I accidentally set off the fire alarm. With the smoke detectors acting up this year, it feels a little full circle every time I pull batteries out of a beeping alarm.
Living in South Hall is a privilege, and there’s already a level of trust and understanding between residents and me that makes my job so much easier. I think it’s just important for residents to remember that the dorm is a communal space, and we want to be mindful of that in shared spaces like the middle room upstairs and the kitchen. At the risk of sounding like a broken record – and I know I’m far from the first RAs to say it- but our residents are what make South Hall so special. They turn this building into a home, and I’m so excited to keep creating memories that will hopefully last a lifetime with them all year long!
— Daphne Prakash, Class of 2026, Biological Sciences