Yadira Soto
Texas State University

Please provide a statement of your personal views on the role and contributions of collegiate recreation in higher education. In your response describe how collegiate recreation has influenced your development.

My personal views on the role and contributions of collegiate recreation in higher education is to provide a space where students and professional can share common experiences for an individual’s holistic wellbeing. I believe that collegiate recreation provides students with the opportunities to create long lasting memories, a sense of belongness, a place to destress, transferable skills and overall impact in one’s wellbeing. Regarding professionals it allows us to give back and continue to grow to the community that invested in us. From my personal experience, collegiate recreation has influenced my development through opportunities, mentorship, and community. As a first generation student, navigating college was a challenge but my identity of soccer allowed me to find my community which then developed into a career. During a time of uncertainty collegiate recreation impacted my professional skills and solidify my passion in the field. I have made long lasting friendships and mentorships that have been my support through my professional and personal development.

Within the context of the NIRSA Strategic Plan, what area/item would you say is a major issue students face today? Please identify a student-driven issue that we are currently facing today and how you would like to address this during your term. How will you create solutions in your role on the Student Leadership Team to address it?

After reviewing the strategic plan, I identify the sustainable communities to be a current issues students face today. I believe this mostly contributes to the past 2 years of pandemic and attempting to revive the foundation that it once was. A method that might be solution is being more intentional towards communicating events and involvement opportunities to the students. I believe this would be a collaborate effort with the help of professional staff impacting students at their universities. The student leadership team could develop workshops or presentations that the professional staff could showcase to their students.

In describing your contributions to NIRSA (i.e. presentations, volunteering, previous leadership roles, etc.), identify how your involvement and experiences meet the Regional Student Leader position criteria and qualify you to advocate for and serve the students of the Association?

During my undergraduate, I was able to assist with our university hosting a Socal Workshop which entitled the role of set up, assigning time monitors for presentations, enhancing the experience of attendees, and the breakdown of the workshop. This experience will help translate in the role or Regional Student Leader when planning the logistics for regional and annual conference. My leadership experiences demonstrates my abilities to work in team dynamics, communication, organization, and work ethic skills that I will translate when working with the students of the Association.

As a Regional Student Leader within NIRSA, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the field of collegiate recreation. With a focus on Student Member Recruitment & Retention, and Student Development what skills, talents, and perspectives would you bring to the Student Leadership Team?

It is through my diverse experiences in multiple universities and leadership roles that provides me with a well rounded student recreation experience. I believe that my unique experience in “non traditional” path allows me to understand the hardship and perseverance from a student lens. I would be able to communicate and share my experience with the students that they may relate to or learn from it. Additionally, I know the importance of building and restoring student morale in order to create a sustainable foundation.