Kristine Campbell is an introvert. She is a first-year student on the fifth floor of Ryle Hall. I believe that Kristine deserves this month’s student of the month award, because she has displayed great leadership and community building skills for Wilder House throughout November. Kristine is a soft-spoken young lady, who knows how to motivate people. Often times student advisors wonder, “How can I possibly build a community with such different people living together in one house?” It sure seemed like it would be difficult this year, but Kristine was so great and bridging the gaps between each student and getting to know almost everyone on the floor. She started by expressing her interest in ultimate Frisbee, a sport that was new to so many people in Wilder House. Throughout November, two or three times a week Kristine would organize a group of Wilder House residents to go play ultimate Frisbee outside. She took something that she really enjoyed doing and made it an activity that now the entire Wilder House community loves to do. (Too bad it’s getting chilly now.)

Along with transforming our community into an ultimate Frisbee team Kristine has dedicated much of her time to creating an environment that is home-like during the holiday season. The halls of Ryle are usually rather bare besides the immense amount of advertising all over the walls. Kristine, along with some other residents, transformed the “elbow” of the hallway into a little holiday area. She decorated the corner with stockings, garland, and even a small Christmas tree. She even went out of her way to be sure that everyone in the house was involved by asking a Jewish resident to add some Jewish holiday decorations to the “elbow”.

Kristine’s dedication to creating a great community of people did not stop with the Christmas tree this November, she also organized a gift exchange. Over half of our community is involved with this gift exchange in which each person buys or makes a five dollar gift for their secret holiday pal. After purchasing the gift, it is placed under the tree in order to make Wilder House even a little more festive. The last Wednesday before everyone leaves for winter break everyone involved in the gift exchange is meeting for desert to open gifts and celebrate before leaving each other for a month.

Kristine is a force within the Wilder House community. This month she has helped to create a community that I am really proud of. Often times, it is so easy to recognize a loud, extroverted person who can use his/her outgoing nature to create a community of people. In Wilder House this year it is Kristine Campbell a rather shy introverted girl, who has a fantastic demeanor and great people skills. It showed me that sometimes the most introverted individuals can help to build a fantastic community. I am thankful for Kristine’s dedication to the residence hall and her own neighbors.

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