Every time I tell people I’m a Resident Assistant, the responses are always one of the following: “Free housing, nice!” or “That sounds like a lot of work.” When I hear these replies it makes me laugh, as they only scratch the surface of what it’s like being an RA.
For context, I’ve been an RA at the University of California, Berkeley for the past three months, and to say it’s been a whirlwind is an understatement. The amount of time, effort, and commitment I’ve put into this job is insane, but honestly, I wouldn’t change it for anything, as I’ve learned so much about being a good and effective leader to all my residents, and a guide and resource for those who may need it during hard times! So, today I’m going to tell the true story of what it’s like to be an RA.
Pictured below: My RA friends and I during move-in day!
Being an RA isn’t easy work. There’s an extensive amount of time and effort that RA’s have to put in to ensure that the residence halls are a safe haven for all students to reside. Being an RA requires that you’re present and emotionally and mentally available for all your residents. You wear many hats with your residents: mentor, conflict mediator, event planner, policy enforcer, community builder, and even a “big sibling”. You are the person students come to when they’re homesick, overwhelmed with classes, dealing with roommate tension, or simply need someone to talk to at 2 a.m.
Community building is at the heart of the job. It’s not just about putting up cute bulletin boards or planning events, it’s about intentionally creating spaces where every resident feels seen, respected, and included. From planning specific programming that meets certain goals to having meaningful one-on-one conversations, RA work is deeply relational.
Then there’s the behind-the-scenes work that people don’t see. Countless emails, duty shifts, incident reports, RA meetings, training sessions, and the never-ending task of balancing RA responsibilities with your own academics and personal life. It takes organization, empathy, patience, and resilience, things I’ve had to learn a lot about these last three months.
But here’s the beautiful part: it’s also incredibly rewarding. Watching residents grow, make friends and feel at home makes every late night and difficult conversation worth it. Some of the best moments come from the little things, laughing in the hallway, residents showing up to your programs, or someone telling you “thank you” because you made a difference. I know seeing how close my residents in particular have gotten warms my heart. I have met some of my greatest friends this year through being an RA and I’m super grateful for how supportive we are of one another in this often intense position!
Pictured below: A picture from my first event as an RA, with some of my friends and residents in attendance!
So yes, being an RA is free housing and a lot of work, but it’s also leadership in action, emotional intelligence in practice, and one of the most impactful roles I’ve ever had thus far in my young adult life. And that’s why I want to pull back the curtain and share the full picture of being an RA: the real highs, lows, and everything in between.