Adam Back, resident assistant for the second floor boys wing, has served as the go-to problem solver for many of the residents living in Navajo-Pinal. Already, he’s used his natural ability to be an attentive listener and moderator to help solve conflicts between two sets of roommates in his own wing. Even when other RAs have been out of town, Adam has happily stepped in to help out their residents as well, forging close bonds with students on other floors of his residence hall. Not only do the residents trust him when they need a friend to talk to, but they also just love to spend time with him. One night, Adam gathered together a group of twenty residents who traveled down to the ever-busy campus convenience store, Highland Market. Upon arrival, they did a “Flash Mob” just to confuse and entertain the dining students inside. Back at the hall, Adam often offers ‘free hugs’ to residents to spread the love and make study-filled days in Navajo-Pinal a little more light-hearted. He’s encouraged residents to get involved on campus, especially with Freshman Class Council. Two of the residents he supported applied and were accepted into the program, a group that helps freshmen get involved with the student body. To show his raging wildcat spirit, Adam took three of his residents to University Ave. on Bear Down Friday to help paint the street red. Also promoting programs in his hall, Adam helped organize and run the Hispanic Heritage Month Navajo-Pinal movie night. Residents gathered in the third floor recreation room to watch a cultural film at this event sponsored by Adam and his fellow Resident Assistants. Furthermore, Adam has been highly involved in Navajo-Pinal’s Hall Council. On one of the weekends in September, he traveled with the council’s E-board to Hall Leadership Camp where they bonded, learned about RHA and altogether had an amazing experience.

What’s made Adam’s first month of the year even more extraordinary is the way he involves his hobbies with his job as a Resident Assistant. This semester, he’s also been working at the Flandrau Observatory, an on-campus planetarium. Connecting his job at Flandrau Observatory with his job as a Resident Assistant, Adam has taught two residence hall programs using his knowledge about the observatory. Adam also participated in a multi-hall event taking residents to a local rock-climbing center called Rocks and Ropes. Although he had a great fear of heights, during this program he managed to conquer it and have a blast with other residents from campus. Taking his rock climbing to the outdoors, Adam conquered another feat this month; he completed a six hour, rigorous hike to Finger Rock, a hiking point in Tucson that is about 4000 feet in elevation gain.

In a way, Adam’s September has been all about climbing to the top. When he is helping his residents one-on-one, he offers his best advice and most attentive listening ears. Throughout his entire hall, he spreads his wildcat spirit and encourages all residents to join in on the fun they are surrounded by on campus. He brings residents of Navajo-Pinal together to just hang out and bond, and also to learn something new about the world around them. He has truly gone above and beyond, making him our RA of the month.

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