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Experience: Support
BACKBONE OF FIRST-YEAR SUCCESS
Residential community mentors are unique members of the Clemson student community. Described by some as the “backbone” of first-year success, RCMs— formerly resident assistants, or RAs—provide students who live on campus a stable community in which to explore, connect, engage and lead.
During the 2023 Fall semester, Clemson had 7,136 students living in residential communities on main campus. Seventy-seven percent were either traditional first-year students or Bridge to Clemson students.
A successful transition to Clemson is critical, and creating a robust residential experience is often the conduit. That’s where student leaders like Addison Langston come into the equation.
LEADING ON THE HALL
“Freshman year, I really didn’t make any friends,” Langston admits, reflecting on the difficulty of entering college in 2020 during a global pandemic. “After becoming a residential community mentor as a sophomore, I’ve gained a support network at Clemson.”
And now it’s Langston’s turn to pay it forward. As a live-in resident on campus, her main priority is building community with students in Lever and Mauldin halls. She meets with students one-on-one, engages in educational development, introduces students to campus resources, decorates bulletin boards, hosts events and celebrates holidays.
My Clemson experience has been full of opportunities to educate myself on a variety of topics, whether it’s academics, interacting with people, how to make friends or how to be a leader. It’s been especially fun to see residents develop; you feel like a proud mom. – Addison Langston
A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
Langston is not alone in providing support to students. Every living space has a full-time staff director, graduate assistants, a residential community leader and multiple RCMs. In Lever and Mauldin, for example, she says 24 students come together to support the broader population.
Each resident is different, so she tailors her leadership style and approach with that in mind. Some are more willing to engage, while others are more passive. Being flexible is the key. It helps to have the support of a strong team, such as full-time community director Rachel Garner.
“As a community director, I knew I would need to relay on returning staff and students to help set up a cohesive and successful team,” says Garner, who joined Clemson Home in the summer of 2023.
“Addison brought a lot of experience and historical background on the community and was willing to take on additional work to help us have the best leadership and a clear direction. She’s been the perfect student leader throughout my first year at Clemson."
