The relationship between Resident Assistants and residents can be anything from super close to extremely awkward. Some people really like their RAs, some hate their RAs and some avoid RAs at all costs. Regardless, Resident Assistants interact with most residents on some level. Depending on a single situation, residents may consider an RA bad or good. But there’s another perspective: your RA’s. Here’s some things your RA would like you to know about being your RA:
1. Our job has layers
Most of the time interactions between RAs and residents has to do with getting locked out of your room or your TV isn’t working. This IS part of being an RA on the daily, but there is much more that goes into the position than opening a few doors and holding a hall meeting. For starters, there are weekly reports, duty logs that must be filled out after each shift, bulletin boards must be made every month and door decs at least every semester (BTW if you make a door dec for another RA, you have to make them for all the RAs in your building too).
Duty (AKA shifts) which go from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the weekdays, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on the weekends. That is, if you don’t need to fill out an incident or disciplinary report. These reports need to be detailed and written in the third person and can take some time to complete.
Finally, there’s programming. Each Resident Assistant has to put on four different programs that follow a different pillar. Most residents like community programs that are for community building, but RAs need three more pillars and a building-wide program as well. Each program requires planning, preparing, executing and evaluation: both residents’ evaluations and self-evaluations.
2. We are people and students too
Some RAs have their schedules posted outside their doors or a chart that shows residents where they currently are. RAs have classes, tests, projects and finals just like every other resident. Also, RAs have friends that include their RA friends and non-RA friends. We love our jobs, but the stress takes its toll and sometimes we need time to just be us.
3. We saw that
Sometimes residents will try to pull a fast one (or slow one) on an RA when they are caught with adult beverages in the hallway. In this situation there are usually three main types of people (and we see them all):
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The statues. Unfortunately, RAs aren’t dinosaurs and freezing up will not keep us from noticing you. (Yes, this happens).
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Mr. or Ms. Quick Hands. Some people try to be swift and swipe their hands to another side of their body. Although you think this is smooth, it actually makes it more obvious that you just tried to hide something.
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The Runners. Residents don’t always actually start sprinting down the stairs, but most will quickly try to walk into a room and think they’ll be safe. Next time remember that running isn’t the answer because chances are, we’ll catch up to you and it’ll just look bad that you tried to run.
4. We don’t judge
Residents may feel that they are being judged by the RAs that write them up or tell them to quiet down after quiet hours. In reality, this is the furthest thing from the truth. We were freshmen and sophomores once too and we know what it’s like. RAs understand mistakes happen and do our best to handle the situation fairly and professionally as we’re taught. This may have us come off as cold to some people, but we do so because, when it comes down to it, being a Resident Assistant is a job and one that needs to be taken seriously.
5. We can’t let it slide, and here’s why:
Failing to uphold the Resident Assistant position damages not only your reputation as a RA, but the reputation of all the RAs. By being super lenient, it makes it that much harder for other RAs to do their job.
6. We hate writing you up too
Documenting is one of the hardest things RAs usually have to do. We live with our residents and writing them up makes it that much more challenging to bond with residents. Also, sometimes we need to document friends, which can ruin that friendship real fast. Also, as mentioned above, writing an incident or disciplinary report up takes up a bit of time into a night shift. Already staying up until 2:30 a.m. in the office can be tiresome enough, but having to write reports can keep us in the office for over an hour extra.
7. We care and we just want you to be safe
With the actual amount of work that goes into being an RA, you have to be really committed to stay in the position (and have the time management skills). The people who can continue to be RAs are some of the most caring people you meet. The entire role of being an RA revolves are helping other residents. Don’t be afraid to talk to your Resident Assistant because they’re in the role for a reason. Resident Assistants are not out to catch you in the act (despite what you may believe). The top priority RAs have (the second being your happiness) is to make sure residents are safe at the end of the night.