They keep your dorm floors on track, and can become really awesome friends to you. But what’s their life like from day to day?
Junior Susanna Yeh took a position as a resident assistant the fall semester of her sophomore year and is currently working her second year as an RA. Now, she’s speaking up on what being an RA is really like.
How did you feel your first year as an RA?
“Of course, I was very nervous because I wanted to do my job well; I wanted to be respected, and I wanted to be liked by all of the residents. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to respond to incidents correctly, so for a long time I would call an experienced RA to assist me whenever I responded to incidents.”
Describe life as an RA.
“I personally meet all the students in the hall and get to know them. Now and then, I am “on duty.” That means I am the RA who responds to incidents during the night and on the weekend. When on duty, I walk around the entire building a few times during the night; if an issue arises, I need to be available. I also plan events for the residents. For example, I take residents to events on campus, and later, I host events such as alcohol education programs and craft nights.
These programs are designed to help students meet others, learn valuable lessons and have fun. As an RA, I represent one of the largest parts of the university- Resident Life. Because of this, I need to behave professionally and ethically all the time. As an RA, I am never officially “off duty” because even when I’m not performing RA tasks, people still expect me to be a role model.”
What have you learned from your experience as an RA?
“I have learned how to better manage my time. Being an RA is fun but also takes up a lot of time. It’s important that I take special care to keep up with my school and other responsibilities. I have multiple calendars and checklists that I use to manage my time. As an RA, I never know when something will come up that will require my full attention, so I have learned to do tasks early instead of procrastinating.”
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened while you were an RA?
“There was an incident once in my hall where someone walked out of the dorm room completely naked. Then, walked down the hall into the bathroom and urinated outside of the bathroom stall. The student proceeded to walk back to the room as if nothing strange had occurred. Yes, it was really gross, but kind of funny too.”
What is your favorite part about being an RA?
“I really like to see how students grow over a year. I live in a dorm that houses a lot of freshmen students; I get to meet students who are spending their first few nights away from home and who are nervous about making friends. I have residents who have never lived in America. Many residents have never lived with a roommate before. I get to be there as they learn to navigate college, and watch as they develop relationships with other students.”