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“Practice what you preach,” said David Barriga, 26, a senior at Queens College, when describing his position as a resident assistant to his fellow students at The Summit.
A resident assistant is an authorized peer leader who oversees students living in a dormitory. With the opening of The Summit, the first residence hall in the college’s 72-year history, Barriga walks the thin line between balancing his own work and assisting other students who are under his supervision.
He found out about the program last spring, and and out of more than 100 applicants, he was one of eleven students chosen. “I was excited to be part of history,” as QC went from a commuter to a residential campus and “motivated to make a positive impact with my teammates.”
The son of Ecuadorian immigrants, Barriga was born and raised in Queens. He credits his parents for instilling in him the value of education. As the oldest of six, he was “responsible for looking after siblings, but also setting the best example for them.”
Growing up, it was his lifelong aspiration to join the military. “I always knew I wanted to serve this country and make an impact on society.” It wasn’t until the first day of his senior year in high school he felt compelled to serve. It was September 11, 2001.
He graduating, he enlisted in the Marines, where he served for almost six years. During his tenure, he attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.
His career in the military took him all over the world, where he had the opportunity to “experience different countries and cultures.” But he also saw hardships, and tried to help. He took part in the humanitarian effort to deliver aid to Indonesia after the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.
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