Real People Profiles: Richard Blissett

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:29:00 -0400
real-people-profiles

I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty and staff, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Richard Blissett

Hometown: Columbia/Ellicott City, MD.

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Six semesters.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: SGA Executive Vice President, Major Inspiration Director.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: I work to improve ways for people to find who they are.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A:Through my roles on campus, I get to hear a lot about people’s goals for the future and what they hope to become. It’s exciting, knowing that I’m talking to someone who is a potential animal behaviorist, social worker, or classical musician. More than that, because I work with both K-12 and college-age students on this front, it’s a ton of fun seeing how these things evolve. From rockstar to researcher, it’s interesting to learn how people come to believe that one path or another is the right one for them.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: The process of reflection isn’t just about fluffy write-ups and colored pencils. If it’s done right, reflection serves not only to help you internalize the mission of what you’re doing, but also to help show you what needs to be done next.

Q: Complete this sentence: “I am a big fan of __________”

A: Laser tag. Best first date? I think so.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: Fun fact: There apparently some machine in either the chemistry or the biology building that if you’re in the room when it gets turned on, it’ll rip holes in your clothes.

Favorite spot: I’m pretty fond of the space under the stairs in the Public Policy building. It’s open pretty late and it’s quiet, so it’s a good place to think and work.