By Nick Massaro | Staff Writer
As the new school year kicks off to a quick start, everyone faces the inevitable obstacles of adapting to a new house, taking new classes, and welcoming in a whole new class of people. Additionally, there are a lot of other changes going on around campus at the beginning of each fall semester. One of these changes occurs in the R.A. community. At the end of each school year, many apply to become an R.A. for the following year, and not all applicants are selected. Among these newly minted resident assistants is Jonathan “Jet” Tavares.
Tavares is a second year Business Administration major, and has been a native of Rhode Island for the majority of his life. Although school hasn’t been in session a full month, Tavares already has very fond regards for his residents.
“These kids are so respectful,” Tavares says. “Whenever my door is open, they always come in.”
Tavares has already become friendly with many of his residents
“They actually just brought me ice cream [one time],” he says.
Tavares says that he enjoys the job immensely, whether or not he’s receiving tasty treats.“It’s such a great opportunity to know the freshmen, and to try to leave a footprint on somebody’s life in a positive way,” he says.
Tavares always seems to be interested in other people’s lives and the environment around him.
“Everybody has a story,” he says. “That’s the reason they are the way they are. It’s so cool to hear different people’s stories.”
Outside his duties as an R.A., Tavares does all sorts of things around the campus. Often he can be found helping out in the Multicultural Office and with their events. He is also a part of the Surf Club, despite surfing’s reputation as a difficult sport.
“For some strange reason it comes easy, it’s not as hard as people say it is,” says Tavares.
Tavares is also involved in Salve’s Worship Team. The team has practices in the chapel and they hold worship nights on various dates throughout the year. They also hold youth events on Sundays, and this is something Tavares is looking to become apart of as well. Whether it is at Salve or elsewhere, he loves helping people.
Over the summer, Tavares spent a month in Central America, working with a local church to help out in orphanages. This kind of service has always been a big part of Tavares’ life.
“It’s definitely changed the way I look at the world, and the way I look at people, and overall my relationship with God,” he says. “I feel like everybody should somehow or someway get to another country and see what life is like in somebody else’s shoes.”
Tavares strives to live by the motto written in his Instagram bio: “Live generously. Love genuinely. Lead courageously.”
