Arnold RD leaving to complete education

By Michelle Barger
Staff Writer

Bonnie Spallinger, resident director for Arnold Hall, announced last week that she will be leaving Bryan at the end of this semester.

Spallinger, who has been Arnold’s RD since fall 2011, is leaving May 16 to finish her master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University.

In order to graduate, Spallinger must complete a combination of 100 practicum hours and 900 internship hours.

Spallinger will earn 600 internship hours this summer at hospital in Macon, Georgia. Then she  will move to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to complete another internship.

After graduation, she said she must complete an additional 3,000 hours of counseling and pass licensure exams in order to be eligible for the counseling licensure.

When looking at the requirements for the licensure,  Spallinger said “It seemed wise for me to go ahead and pursue [the licensure] and find a position in the field [to begin] gathering hours.”

Spallinger said that, even working full time, it will take roughly two years to meet the 3,000 hour requirement.

Spallinger said she hopes to use counseling in missions.

Before coming to Bryan, Spallinger worked with missionary kids (MKs) at Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany. During her last year there, she got to know some of  the issues her students were dealing with.

Spallinger said that some of her students were dealing with abandonment issues due to being placed in the boarding school at a very young age.

“I just felt like I needed more education to effectively minister to these people,” she said.

Spallinger also works for Avant Ministries, and during her time there she became aware of the great need for the care of other missionaries.

She said that going overseas is emotionally intense. Whether it is due to a language barrier or being unfamiliar with the customs, everyday life is difficult.

“Going to the grocery store can be one of the most stressful things when you first come to a new country [because] things are labeled differently,” she said.

Going to a new country with a team is not always easier because everyone is under a lot of stress and culture shock.

“The worst of who you are comes out during that time, so there needs to be a lot of team building, and I’m really passionate about that as well. That’s why I’m doing counseling,” Spallinger said.

Spallinger credits her counseling training to helping her become a better RD.

“I think a lot of  young adults are figuring out life. You’re trying to understand how to be an adult and you’re given new freedom and [trying to figuring out] what that looks like,’ she said.

Part of being an RD is building relationships with the students in that building. For Spallinger, her training has helped her figure out how to walk alongside students who are trying to figure out the freedoms and responsibilities that college gives them, and being a voice of reason when students need it.

“My training has been beneficial for me to realize that and understand what young adults are going through,” she said.

During her time at Bryan, Spallinger said that she has continued to learn about trusting in God.

“I feel like wherever I  go, God continues to teach me I just need to trust Him. It looks different at each place, and each location is a different phase in life for me.”

Along with trusting the Lord, Spallinger also said that she has learned the value of friendship and has enjoyed solid friendships while at Bryan.

“That’s the hard thing about leaving – leaving my friends,” she said.

Spallinger said that she thinks Bryan was the perfect place for her to work toward her master’s degree while connecting with both her students and other faculty members.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Bryan. I love what i get to do and love being with the students, and having the opportunity to have real relationships with students,” she said.

Spallinger said that her hope for her replacement is to be a solid person who loves and builds relationships with the residents of Arnold.

The residence life staff is currently interviewing replacements for Spallinger’s position.