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So what exactly does it take to be an RA? Let Coki Ta tell you!

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Nicole Cremer
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Madeline Hunt
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter.

Its Coki’s second year as an RA in courtside and HerCampus spoke with him to see what the rewards of being an RA are and got an inside look into what its all like!

Her Campus: What is your favorite thing about being an RA?
Coki Ta: Its my 2nd year as an RA and my favorite thing about being an RA is that I get to be the person that new students can go to if they ever have any problems related to the adjustment from high school to college.

HC: Have you planned any fun events this year?
CT: Well, for the past 3 years we have planned a trip to Six Flags, which has been awesome.  We have arranged for the cost to be only $15 including transportation, so residents can go for a cheap price and it’s a lot of fun!

HC: Are there any moments this year that have reminded you why you like being an RA?
CT: A lot of moments! The thing is people don’t see you all the time but residents do come to you with academic, social, or even personal issues.   The best thing for me is when I can help those people and see the results.  I was thanked on year for something I didn’t even really realize I did, which was rewarding.  One of the residents gave me a gift with a card saying how without me, they don’t think they would have become part of the courtside family.  So, to see how I helped an introverted resident become part of the social group on my floor was one of those moments for me where I knew I was doing something good.   

HC: What is your least favorite part of being an RA?
CT: Very few RAs like busting people for alcohol.  We do it so residents stay safe and don’t get out of hand.  It’s not just to bust them but to keep them safe.

HC: Besides being an amazing RA, what else have you been in involved in at UCLA?
CT: I am also involved in project literacy on campus, which goes into inter-city Los Angeles to improve reading, writing, and vocabulary.  I have been doing this for four years and I am really dedicated to it.  It is honestly the best group of people I have ever met.  

HC:  Since you are graduating, do you have any plans for the next year?
CT: I am applying to medical school, so one day I hope to become a pediatrician.  I love working with kids and helping people so it’s a perfect fit!

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Nicole Cremer is currently a sophomore at UCLA majoring in Neuroscience. She has a passion for journalism and loves being involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities, including doing research at the UCLA Brain Tumor institute, volunteering with Global Medical Brigades where she traveled to Ghana this past winter to provide health care to over 1,200 people, contributing to the Daily Bruin newspaper as a Video Reporter, and being a part of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Before becoming the Her Campus Campus Correspond for UCLA, she was a founding member of Her Campus UCLA and wrote a weekly health blog. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys exploring new restaurants and sites around Los Angeles, listening to country music, running (and training for half marathons…maybe a full one someday!), hiking, and spending as much time as she can at the beach!
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Madeline Hunt is a senior at UCLA majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish. Originally from the laidback beach-town of Santa Barbara, the California native finds the fast-paced nature and eccentricity of LA extremely exciting. Once more, she decided to expand her horizons when she studied abroad this past fall in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Madeline wants to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and is considering broadcast journalism and public relations as potential options. On campus, she is currently the Public Relations & Marketing Director for the student- run organization Fashion and Student Trends and an intern at E! News. She served as an entertainment reporter on UCLA’s accredited student newspaper, The Daily Bruin, under the video division and is a current member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. During her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, exercising, going to the beach, shopping (online shopping will be the death of her!), reading Glamour and Cosmo, eating Mexican food and sushi, spending time with her friends, practicing her Spanish, and satisfying her weakness for caffeine with Starbuck’s lattes.